LeKook

I think that would qualify as one of those "between himself and the Lord" circumstances... LOL!!!

I hereby declare you an honorary Eccentric Old Woman with a Red Hat. I do hope this makes you a little bit happier today. Also, don't forget to wear your tie-dye smiley face shirt (which I wear often). Yeah, I'm just a few months from 50, but prematurely gray, so I get the eccentric old woman title by default. Especially when I meet people at my door wearing my smiley face shirt and pig slippers.

I'm new here too, nice to meet you folks!

One of the ladies I met since moving to this area mentioned this to me as a possibility, she also says it's a bit unusual to ask to do this but that no one ever gets turned down. I'll look into it again. :)

Not so much equating progression with callings as being concerned that whatever is unique about me is going to get overlooked and I'm just going to be put into some calling that is so not who I am that being willing to fulfill future callings will be put into question. I agree - and my concern across the board is that folks are not taking the time to get to know me, and I'm feeling "rushed". I already have a calling (received the same day I was baptized), assisting the person who handles compassionate care in our area, and I'm fine with that, it's a starting point, I'm 100% on board with it. :) I already have a limited Temple recommend (1 year, baptisms for the dead only) and have already been involved in doing baptisms for the dead, went for the first time last night. Like you I'm keen on growing and becoming more like Christ, and being obedient to God in my own neck of the woods, so to speak (within my own family, etc.). So when is it okay, after prayerful thought, to say NO when you're asked to do something you're just not ready to do? I just left a system of belief (Jehovah's Witnesses) that leaves you feeling like a loser whenever you say no to a request. That was part of the many reasons I left the JWs; I'm still emotionally scarred from that experience after 9 years of it and don't want to walk into the same situation, where saying no to a request is tantamount to saying that one is lacking in spiritual maturity, and the person saying no is viewed as a lesser human because they opted to do so. AWESOME viewpoint! Thank you! :) I'm willing to allow myself room to grow, and sure, I'll take on some things that are new to me, but I'm just a bit at a loss as to how to get others to realize that I do have some positive qualities about me that might benefit the church and the ministry as a whole. How do I do this? -LeKook

Thanks everyone for the great suggestions -- I was not quite sure my question made sense. I was feeling a bit pinched by what I kept imagining to be pre-defined roles for women, and the realization that as an individual I don't fit any of those roles (that, plus I'm a bit, um, KOOKY, thus the nickname "LeKook"). Most folks who spend any time with me figure I must have been a standup comic at some point!! Prior to being baptized I was a Jehovah's Witness so I don't do well being pre-defined or being encouraged to give up what I see as my own God-given personality. I've always been piqued when I'm told I'm too lighthearted and that I should ask God to not be the way I am. And all I keep thinking is, "But he created me this way!!"

LOL!!! I'm so eccentric I might just create my own club, and yes, you are welcome to join!!!

LOL Jerome well I guess it depends on whom you ask! I guess being an eccentric old woman isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I can't come up with a single instance where being one would be useful to those in my ward!!!

Hi Bytebear! I plan to do that, you're right I should. :)

Hi Applepansy, thanks for the suggestion, I'll check them out. I hope folks here understand why I'm asking about this, in no way am I trying to demean the roles of women who have children, etc. It's just that well, I don't. My interactions with other women in my church are a bit awkward because of it. Sometimes I leave meetings feeling like an eccentric old woman, LOL!!!

I'm a bit late getting to this thread (though admittedly, no one was actually expecting me to show up here, LOL!). Here's how I define "bad" movies (or TV, or any other entertainment)... To me, "bad" is anything that drowns out my sense of peace, or causes fear, anger, jealousy, or any similar feelings. That being said, within the context of a story, "bad" stuff may appear. But if after I finish watching something I continue feeling these negative emotions, or if I find myself feeling distanced from the influence of the Holy Ghost, I pretty much know I've crossed my own personal "bad" threshold. At which point, of course, repentance is a wonderful thing. :)

Hey everybody, I'm a newbie here and recently baptized and confirmed, but that doesn't mean I know everything I need to know, LOL!!! So here's my question (I'll try not to run on too long): Men in the church can work towards the priesthood roles within the church. Women can work towards... what? I have no children, so the traditional take of childbearing and child rearing don't apply in my case. I'm married, yes, but am almost 50, so not likely to be having children, LOL!!! My spouse is doesn't belong to the church, he's staunchly Catholic. For some reason I have it in my mind that this is really all that women can aspire to within the church. You know, nurturing roles. And I freely admit, this view I have may be incorrect. Just trying to figure out where I fit in. :) Hope some of this question makes sense, to someone, somewhere! :)

Now, now, don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. Try looking at it by focusing on answering a few questions. 1. How is it possible for someone with a limited education to write (much less translate) an entire archive of scripture from another language? 2. Why would someone devote their entire life, and die for, something that was "made up"? 3. Why, up to the end of their lives, would the men who also saw the actual gold plates from which the Book of Mormon was translated continue to assert that they in fact had seen them? Those are just a few questions you can ask and research the answers for yourself. I'm just suggesting you formulate your own questions and don't let incidentals like people worshiping Joseph Smith (which is something that isn't done) weaken your resolve to investigate. Dig in, give your investigation time, in other words. There are a lot of weird anti-Mormon claims out there. Listen to those who have a real testimony of the change in their lives because they believe first. That's where you'll get the honest truth. All that anti-stuff is just people's way of trying to get revenge. Chances are, if they've left the church, they never were wholehearted in their convictions in the first place. Just sayin'.

"Everyone seems to bow to Joseph and the church has images in the church of him. I guess I am the only one on the planet (or site) that feels this way so there is no point in going any further. Thank you all for Quoting from the D&C but please remember I am an investigator and am still investigating the church. It does not help me to quote from a book which I still question. " I'm newly baptized. Newly confirmed as a member of the church. Up until this moment I have never seen anyone "bow to Joseph Smith". Revere him as a prophet? Honor him as a man who was used by Heavenly Father to restore Christ's church on earth? Yes, and yes. Worship him? Never. Did you read the Book of Mormon? Did you ask for revelation to know if what's in it is true? Think with your heart, not with your head. What you've written sounds not like your own words, but the words of someone else holding a grudge and feeding that to you. Have you actually, prayerfully, read the Book of Mormon? Or just a part of it? Please, take another look. Ignore outside sources. What does your heart tell you? Or is it hard to know because of your other concerns? How much of the Old and New Testament books have you read? Just curious. Keep investigating, and don't let comments here or elsewhere get you down. :)

Okay I have some questions but am not going to post them right now - want to make sure they end up in the right place. Some of the questions may come across as anti- and that's not something I can correct. It's just that I've read some of the anti- stuff and a lot of the legit stuff and I have questions. I'm not anti. I'm just seeking the facts. :) Anyway please let me know where to post the questions. All replies will be handled respectfully (by me, anyway). Thanks! -LeKook

Hi All, New here (naturally!). Just thought I'd introduce myself. I'm a former Jehovah's Witness from Maryland. I'm almost 50 and sort of free-fall mode where spiritual things are concerned - currently reading the Book of Mormon. One of the key reasons I'm having problems with ALL Bible-based belief systems is the fact that I have things that would be considered "paranormal" happen all the time (since I was old enough to start walking - I had a near-death experience around that time). I don't look for these things to happen, they just do, and randomly. And any time I ever mention a situation to a Christian, I get hit with, "It's from Satan, reject it." Okay. So I reject it, and then it happens again. Anyway if someone could explain to me why something that has been happening naturally to me since I was a very small child is "from Satan", I'd love to hear it. And I'd like to know why something that happens randomly, without my seeking it, can't just the same be from God. I have to reject many beliefs outright or reject part of who I am. To me, that's just crazy. Okay, yeah, I have a little chip on my shoulder about this one issue, but I'm a friendly person, don't be skeered. :) - LeKook