RMGuy

There are a lot of good charities out there. What is important to you? Use your money to support those things. For example, after tithing and fast offerings we support our local soup kitchen and work there regularly. My daughter enjoys volunteering at Pregnancy Services in our town for under-privileged mothers. Find your passion and support that. -RM

Must Resist Being Snarky -RM

Hootie! -RM

I am concerned that we sometimes throw around the term "addiction" very carelessly in the church. When we talk of a porn addiction, what do we mean by that? I live and work in a very sparsely LDS populated area. Because of that, nearly all of my work colleagues, friends, and neighbors are not members. They all drink, but I know very few alcoholics. I know a number of them that engage in behaviors against which we are counseled. This includes a few that I know view pornography, but are they addicted? It does not affect their work. They can function with or without it. It is not a controlling obsession. I agree with the above posters that pornography/masturbation can be a problem in a marriage especially when a spouse feels as though this degrades them personally or makes them less desirable. I also understand that the church teaches that masturbation/pornography is a sin, but so are many, many other things...including some that are detrimental to marriage. Attending sporting events at the expense of family time, swearing, failing to pay tithing, participating in MLM schemes. All can be detrimental to the family, some might be construed as sins...BUT, we don't by definition classify them as addictions, and labeling the individual as an addict may be counter productive. Clearly, I don't know your situation, your spouse may truly be "addicted". Yet I think in many instances the reality is individuals are participating in behavior that is upsetting and that we can't condone, but I doubt as to whether it rises to a the level of addiction. -RM

Angel, It sounds like you are a very good person. Someone that is always striving to be what you are supposed to be. This may not be popular advice, but it has helped me. Be yourself, be real, be honest. If you don't think you can handle the calling right now, then trust that you know your situation better than the bishop or stake president. Say no. Even though that is probably contrary to the counsel to never turn down a calling. If the choice is between paying the electric company to keep the lights on, or paying tithing, and you think that it is better to pay the bill and that Heavenly Father will understand better than the attorney will, then pay tithing. If though that goes against what you have heard to always pay tithing first. The gospel is about being a better person but we are not required to walk father than we have strength nor run faster than we are able. It is a little here and a little there. Start being you. You mentioned praying and reading scriptures less. For others that might be a horrific thought, because they might need to do both of those things more to find balance and peace in their life. For you it might bring more stress and worry than comfort and cheer. There is a caution that the natural man (woman) is an enemy to God. I get that and we need to be careful about justifying our behavior. However, God created us as individuals, not as robots. We need to learn to be comfortable with excersizing our agency, making decisions, and learning who we are. Just my $.02. In the meantime (hugs). -RM

I loved my mission. I served with a companion for whom it nearly resulted in his death. I have seen them be "The best two years" for many young people in the church, and the worst two years for others. For that reason alone, I want my daughters or son to choose to serve a mission because it is their choice. Not because it is what I want or don't want, or because it is what a GF/BF wants or doesn't, or because of guilt piled on by leaders. If they want to go, then I will support and back them 100%. They will have my love, encouragement and support. If they choose not to go and focus on education or career, then they will likewise have my love, encouragement and support. -RM

I'm sure that there are others that can speak to the concept much better than I can, however, time is an actual part of the universe. It plays a role in the general theory of relativity. A good introductory book is A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bryson, a bit more in-depth the article on A Brief History of Relativity by Hawking. Both are written for the non-scientist. -RM

Well, we finally got rid of Jenny and now have a republican governor and house and senate to go with it, if you can believe that. If your neice goes to college at Central Michigan, then we are there, I teach for Central, so who knows I might have even had her in class :-) -RM

Windseeker, I bet. She recently did a school project comparing the organelles in a cell to the equipment required to keep an engine running...no wonder she wants to be a mechanical engineer. Dad is just a typical business guy. -RM

They have the text up now too. A girl, the Internet, and her Pontiac Fiero - CNN.com -RM

2 wrongs...and all that. You'd probably get done for assault. -RM

Grrr, not sure why it doesn't show up! it is linking to another video once I post here. Weird! Video - Breaking News Videos from CNN.com

My little girl on CNN A girl, the Internet, and her Pontiac Fiero - CNN.com -RM

Marlin, I get your point, I think. Perspective is very important to understanding. However, I have been in situations where individuals have shared things with parents like the thought above and found it to be not very helpful. Your experiences of course may differ. -RM

@Badwolf My wife is from the UK, Yorkshire to be precise. I usually take students over for 3-4 weeks each year as well, but that is usually in the Southwest, (Cornwall, Devon, etc.) The church is pretty strong in locations up north, not so much in the southwest. I love the UK. (come to think of it, there are very few places I don't like...hmmm). -RM

SO, So Jealous. We have visited Maine several times. Everyone of them a highlight of my life. Maine is what I picture Eden to be. Amazing scenery, abundant wildlife, and friendly people. For me Maine is Heaven on Earth. The very first time I stepped foot in the state if just felt like Home. I was a Buckeye born and bred, but for me Maine is the Celestial Kingdom of the states, followed very closely by Michigan. -RM

I concur with both of the above, and yet if you are asking whether or not you personally did anything wrong, I think that the Saviour probably watched that little incident with a smile on his face. You showed compassion to the young deacon in a stressful situation, where aware of the needs of the young family, and sacrificed your right, for what made everyone's day just a little bit smoother. That shows empathy, compassion, kindness, and self-sacrifice. Just the kinds of things that the Lord taught. So, I agree that everyone has a right to the sacrament, and there were other ways to handle the situation, I think with the information you had, you handled it wonderfully as well. -RM

Vort, once you reach 50 you get to start counting backwards. -RM

Washington state is beautiful. I've done some hiking and climbing out there. Absolutely breathtaking scenery. -RM

I've always said Judo that the Northern M states are awesome: Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana. All are nice. -RM

Michigan. Love it. Beautiful scenery, friendly people, reasonable cost of living. We are in the middle of the mitten so to speak. So if you like woods and rivers, walks and neighbors, you'd love where we are. 1 ward in a town of 30,000 and the college students attend the ward with us, not a separate singles ward. If you are looking for shopping, nightlife, or a high concentration of LDS, then you need to keep looking. -RM

Perhaps Garry hasn't been around as long as some of us, so in his lifetime only President Hunter...lol! -RM

Physical violence to a minor by an adult leader is a matter for the police and the prosecuting attorney. -RM

I'd go with 9 over 380. LCP is ok. If you like the LCP you might want to look at the Kel-Tec's as well. I have a P32 for when I need a mouse gun, nice, functional, cheap, without being cheaply made. -RM

Seciont 89 2 To be sent greeting; not by commandment or constraint, but by revelation and the word of wisdom, showing forth the order and bwill of God in the temporal salvation of all saints in the last days— I agree with the above. -RM