xLandonx

Kind of funny, replace the word "stress" with either "loneliness" or "depression" and this describes some of my patterns pretty well. Particularly tonight, as I should have been to bed about two hours ago. All the vitamin information seems pretty interesting, I'll have to look into it myself. You might also want to add more exercise to your daily routine. It should help get rid of some excess energy and hopefully release enough endorphins to help even you out during the "freak outs". Me, personally, I think I'm going to set a tv up in front of the treadmill and do a couple of miles while watching Metalocalypse :).

Don't turn 18! Just say no! Then you have to get a job, and can be tried as an adult

Hello from Salt Lake, where the parking is always plentiful

Actually it doesn't really bother me, as I fall into the Type A catagory Everyone has lead different lives and has developed differents thoughts and opinions, there's nothing wrong with that. We are straying from the topic quite a bit, I propose we 'agree to disagree' and put the argument behind us. Draven, you must work in construction because you hit the nail right on the head

Jesus was the Lamb of God. His mission on earth was to be a sacrifice for our sins, so he allowed himself to be subjected to violence at this time. Given that before mortality he was known as Jehovah, and responsible for quite a bit of loss to human life, and will be responsible for more at the second coming, we can deduce that He cannot be classified as a pacifist. I understand how my statement could be misinterpreted. I just didn’t want to provide a lengthy explanation unless needed/requested. What I meant is there’s a difference between subjecting YOURSELF to something, and allowing horrible things to happen to OTHER people when you have the ability (and in certain circumstances the obligation) to defend them. My decision to use a term as strong as “coward” was very intentional, but not meant to be all inclusive. Pacifism can be a wonderful ideal, when applied to ones responsibility to themselves. But IMO it falls short when it comes to non pacifists, who don’t have the ability to defend themselves, suffering when there is someone who COULD defend them, but chooses not to. Also, there are two types of people who claim to be pacifists. Type A: is brave and unwavering in their ideology, they will stand humbly, but without shame, as violence is inflicted upon them. Type B: will soil themselves at the first sign of confrontation and look for the nearest dark corner to hide in. Then hide again from the truth of their character by wearing the mask of a “pacifist”. Type A has my deepest respect, unfortunately I strongly suspect most people who claim pacifism fall easily into the Type B category.

When the Lamanites took arms against the people of Ammon (Anti-Nephi-Lehies) the Nephites took up arms in their defense. This to me tells me it's perfectly acceptable to take measures to defend those who are unable to defend themselves.

"They're coming to get you Barbara!"

There's a big difference between being "smitten" on the cheek and letting someone rape your wife and murder your family because you are too much of a coward to protect them. Just my thoughts...

I'm a big supporter the 2nd ammendment. I hold a CFP, outside of work where "weapons" are not allowed I am carrying. If you see me at the gas station, or in line at the store, little do you know that I have a government size ("full" size in lamens terms) 1911 .45acp loaded with Hornady Critical Defense on my hip covered by my shirt. This is almost a rule, with little exception. It is my right to legally carry this item for the protection of myself or others. However, I recognize and accept that it is also the right of an institution to request that firearms not be allowed on their property. Just as it is my right to own and carry a firearm it is the church's right to bar them from being on church property pending certain circumstances. One interesting thing I remember the instructor talking about when I took my concealed carry class, is he brought up specifically that the LDS church doesn't allow firearms on their property (this information was relevant as I live in Utah) , but he did know several people who had spoken with their bishop about it and had been given permission to carry while on church property and during church services. So if you are really that adamant about carrying while at church one could always discuss it with their bishop and perhaps they will grant your request. If not, owell, life goes on.

Since nobody has figured it out by now I'm just going to come out and say it. I find it much more likely that DKM88 is an anti posing as a member with a shaken testimony, than a member with a shaken testimony. All reasonable explanations and attempts at consolation have lead to nothing but adamant arguments (not truly taking the new advice/information into account) and paraphrased repeats of the original post. DKM88, if I'm wrong about you I sincerely apologize. That being said, I'm rarely incorrect about these kinds of assessments. If I happen to be wrong in the above mentioned statement, here is my advice: If you are truly somebody who's faith has been shaken you should take more time to consider the advice and information given on this forum and do so with an open mind and an open heart. Also, if your situation is truly as you describe it your method of maintaining or regaining your testimony is fundamentaly flawed. You cannot justify faith or spirituality through history and science. These can be tools to build faith, but they will always be inadequate as a foundation to faith. The main reason for this is because history and science are the compilation of "mans" knowledge. Unfortunately, mans ('humyns', if you want to be politically correct ) knowledge is incomplete. We are constantly learning, and the more we learn to more our understanding changes. You cannot take any historical evidence, both supporting and opposing a spiritual idea as an absolute truth. Why? Because it is not an absolute truth, it is an incomplete knowledge. Just because there is an information conflict does not mean something, like the church, or the BoA should be discarded. Conflicts exist, this is one of the only true "facts" of life. You want a good example of everything I've stated in this paragraph, try applying Newtonian laws of physics to quantum mechanics. This is a secular example of how two things can be considered (generaly) true, but create conflict when put together. In this secular example we know that both are true in their own way, but do to an imperfect understanding we cannot reconcile these two principals. Information is needed that we don't have. This is why you cannot base spiritual belief on mans knowledge, because there is always information we need, that historically and scientifically we might not have. You need to put more energy into concentrating on the spiritual side of spirituality, and not the secular side of spirituality.

^ Pretty much sums it up entirely right there.

I try to avoid looking at things this way myself, however, to answer your question it (generaly) means one or more of those three things. Depending on the man certain things might be more important than others.

Welcome! I'm in a similar place as well (trying to get my spiritual life in order). Hope you enjoy the forums :).

To add to Spartans point - I'm 26, raised in the church AND unmarried (Utah joke) . I've sported every hair cut from a devilock to a mohawk (current is mohawk). One of my favorite kinds of music is symphonic deathmetal. The members and non-members alike on this forum can have widely varying personalities and opinions, I'm sure you will find yourself at home here ReynaRosa!

So, I thought it would be interesting to read some artistic writing and poetry centered around spirituality and the gospel. Kind of like a poetry slam :). I guess to get the ball rolling I'll share something I wrote awile ago. Those who have gone through (or need to go through) the repentence process I think can relate the to feeling of this piece. I can imagine (but could be wrong) that this is a near universal feeling of those who have been pulled down by their own decision. In retrospect it reminds me of how Alma the younger must have felt during his conversion. Prayer of the Damned The sky has blackened. The sun descends, giving stillborn birth to a starless firmament. The moon is red and bleeding. A crimson fog rolls off of it like a plague, a poison, the air is cancer. It smells of death here, the stench of failure and weakness. The coldest chill runs down his spine as he realizes he has stumbled into a cemetery. It's like a haunted forest. The whispers of perdition echo off dead trees. Their branches scratch at the sky. Faint shimmers hint at noose bound spirits that have been here since the dawn of time. They hang from every limb, swaying and singing their torment. This ghastly melody, fatal to any who heed its call. Tombstones litter the ground. They are black and bleak, glinting red, reflected from the mourning moon. They all bear the same name, carved like a contract inked in blood. No final words of slumber, no eulogy, no 'Rest In Peace'. How could he have found himself in this place? Or maybe, he's been here all along, planting gravestones. A crop of self-infliction. He's chiseled his name with sin upon obsidian. He's chiseled his name with sin upon obsidian. The stench of death rises once more. Stronger, stronger, than ever before - overwhelming, asphyxiating. The swaying ghosts begin to chant, "You deserve this". The ground shivers then shakes, then silence… Desecrated bodies rise from the earth. They all look the same, but different, like a man who has died a thousand times before. Some are bone bare, with but a scrap of flesh left on the carcass. Others still bloated and gangrene, with slit wrists. Others with slit throats. Alas, his crop has sprouted to harvest him. With every level of decay displayed before him he stares in horror. They stare back with lidless eyes, bequeathing judgment. They grab and pull and bury. Cold lifeless hands feel just like shackles. Each corpse a link in a chain forged of transgression. With all the strength of consequence they drag him down, further and further, deeper and deeper, inside the eternal abyss. Even now there shines a light, off in the distance. A hope he's failed to follow. In desperation he bows his head. Under the weight of guilt he utters a psalm so silent and soft and filled with sorrow, it can only be heard by the One who created him. He offers a broken heart, bleeding and bathed in tears, as a sacrifice. Under the weight of guilt he utters a prayer so silent and soft and filled with sorrow – the prayer of the damned.

It seemed like a logical contribution to the thread at the time. But given the fact that it was one of my open-to-a-random-page-and-read sessions from about a week ago (I kept it book-marked, I think I've read it atleast once a day since then) it's quite probable that it was brought to my attention for more than my own benefit.

Some thoughts from someone who passed the Sacrement with a mohawk: While having a respectful and clean appearance is obviously a necessity, hair is ultimately trivial. When I was the same age I had a mohawk, not that toned down buzz cut fom the pics, this style was legit. However, when I went to church (for the sake of others, I really didn't see a problem myself) I kept it down and combed. As far as has been made known to me it's never caused any kind of issues with any of the members. But then again, I was always kind of the 'weird kid', so perhaps people were just used to me doing what I was going to do . Now, as for my personal thoughts. As I stated before, hair is trivial. We are going to be judged by our actions and our hearts, not the fuzzy stuff growing from the northern most point of our epidermis. Anyone who finds their ability to feel the Spirit impaired because of a hairstyle choice would be better served looking inside themselves and not the deacon/teachers/priests head, as they have some preconceived notion that has disabled their critical thinking skills and left them unable to opinionate based on a members true character. The previous statement seems a bit harsh, but when it comes down to it, the person who is uncomfortable with a kid, who by the very fact that he is passing the sacrement has displayed he is of worthy and good character, is going to be the same person who is uncomfortable around potential converts that don't fit this individuals cooky-cutter image of what they find appropriate. Their disdain is what drives the Spirit away, not somebodies hair cut. I can imagine these attitudes are often antithetical to the fellowshipping and potential conversion of many individuals. For example, how often have we heard a variance of "I like The Church, but some of the people there make me feel unwelcome."? Now, the potential POSITIVES of a member having a mohawk. What does it say to the youth of The Church? Some might hold the philosophy that it sets a bad example, I personally beleive the opposite to be true. Teenagers are going to rebel. That statement is correct much more often than it is not. What message does a preisthood holder, with a haircut that is synonymous with rebellion send to our youth. The cut teaches them that it's ok to rebel a little bit. It's OK to individualize and explore unconventional thought. However, in combination with performing sacred ordinances it teaches that while a little bit of rebellion is ok, one should remain steadfast in their faith and duty to God. I beleive it sends a message that one can practice a bit of (trivial) non-conformity AND remain diligent in their service. This is my two-cents, some may find it more valuable than others haha.

D&C 58:2-4 . I've found this passage to be of some comfort to me lately.

I'm beginning to suspect that is why quite a few of us joined this forum. I know that's why I did

Yeah, wait for Diablo III lol.

For a labor job, this is good advice. But I would recomend stearing clear of a lot of customer service jobs, especially on the phones. I used to do customer service on the phones for a medicare insurance company. I monitor agents now, I don't take calls, but for that year most days felt like an 8 hour panic attack (even though I was a really good agent). Someone with any kind of emotional disorder is going to be suseptable to stress and anxiety, which is something certain jobs can create a lot of. But, like I said, a labor job, something where you're not getting yelled at by people all day, could be good for building a sense of self worth and independence.

I just realised it's Friday (or more specifically that you mentioned it was on Thursday).... So in exchange for my late advice I will offer my condolences and hope all went well for you and your family.

I said the opening prayer at my grandmothers funeral recently (May). Among other good points to make in a funeral prayer you might want to add a word about the temporal nature of death and our eventual resurrection. Seek Inspiration in your every day life, I myself was moved to include a quote from a song "The end is in fact just a beginning." Also, you may want to pray that those affected by her mortal loss will be visited by the comfort of the Holy Ghost.

Do you play any instruments? If yes how often do you practice it? I've "played" guitar for 5 years (I think) but have only started taking it seriously for the past month or so. You would be suprise how much progress you make when you play almost every day as opposed to playing a few days every couple of months. No matter what kind of music you like, and whether you play an instrument yet or not, there are a lot of DIY resources to help you get on the path to learning/playing/composing/recording music. Another point, while learning a musical instrument may be frustrating, it can also be extremely theraputic (from personal experience). Given your statement about having an emotional disorder this could be another reason to look into music as a hobby if not as a profession.

Salls, I'm in a similar boat as you. Spartan, not bad advice haha.