Magen_Avot

I know that finances can be a terrible source of stress and I am sensitive to the situation of your family. Every Ward/Stake and General conference we raise our hands to sustain those who are called to preside over us. At least we have that opportunity. There can be times for some when it may seem nearly impossible to do so. It is not always so easy, I know. They do need our support and we need theirs. It can't be an easy moment, but... I can say with conviction that when we humble ourselves and accept their guidence and do what is asked, pray about it, give it all the thought it deserves we WILL feel the Lords embrace. But it really does take personal effort and a forgiving attitude. The single most important thing for us, the individual, to do is be right with God and that requires many things including the challenge of heeding the counsel of the BP. In spite of how you must feel right now, this is a marvelous opportunity to gain a life changing testimony and real happiness. God bless.

This is my opinion but we do sustain the current 15 as "prophets, seers and revelators". It is a title in this church. Also each seperately are gifts of God (yes, seer and revelator are tandom and should be) and have their place and either have or will be used by the 15 as the Lord wills it. It would be nice to know these divine gifts are excercised by them but I'm not on that list. Sadly official discussion of seer stones have indeed fallen by the way side and we now know so little I expect that the day will soon come that most members won't even know what we are talking about. (wait, that may already be true). I do believe the stones mentioned are available but doubt that they ever see the light of day becuase such things may not be needed or are just not disclosed, but definately a topic of debate. My opinion doesn't really mean much, but it's good to hear the discussion here.

One only needs to employ Moroni's promise to know if the the things written in the Book of Mormon are true. I am confident that the same thing can be applied to the words of the prophet (discussed earlier) to know for one's self if what the prophet said is also the mind of the Lord on the subject. Obedience to the prophet or not is a matter of personal agency which is the Lords pervue. Whether or not someone has a tattoo is of no concern or consequence to me, but I do not subcribe to the practice myself.

It does seem counter productive to leave the church to get out from under the yoke of the Lord or for any other reason, but there are so many reasons for inactivity and name removal and sometimes members bear at least some burdon for those results. In a case of suicide, we can hardly say what the eternal consequences are, only the Lord can. It may not make sence to some of us, yet we can correctly teach that suicide is not the answer, show compassion and continue to endure to the end ourselves while helping others to do the same. This may also be true for the question of this thread. Perhaps we can ask ourselves what we can do before things like this happen or after. Just a thought

Thank you for your perspective and experience Peragon, knowing a little of your story is humbling and compassion promoting. The topic generally is way over my head to be giving any guidence but I looked in the CHI #1 after seeing this thread. In every case listed (that I could find) about transgender issues the instructions directed authorities to turn to the Office of the First Presidency. However, answers already given about temple marriage and priesthood ordination being withheld is correct. Even in the case of an investigator guilty of murder, who served their sentence in full, authorities are directed to turn to the Office of the First Presidency before baptism. I appreciate the 'consistency' the First Presidency would give considering the variences that could occur if it was up to local authorities only. Either way, my opinion is neither here nor there. All I can do is be accepting and a blessing to those I serve no matter their circumstances.

Or having the slipper shoot out and lodge in the wall, or, or worse.

I can't believe I'm a firster to respond! 1980 Canada Toronto Mission. It was English speaking and I didn't have any problem learning the language, ... eh? Well, I never said 'zed'. Some things are just wrong! But I also consider my self still fluent. I have too many stories to tell, but there's a reason they call it the 'best/worst two years. Oh, but the first day of tracting was in 4 inches of snow and I remember thinking, "I'm gonna do this for two years!" I challenged the mission more than it challenged me I think. My son just returned from Ukraine (Russian speaking) and he's fairly fluent. But then, I don't think I ever really understood him. If you don't believe me, just ask him!

Try converting it to .rtf. When I worked at state unemployment office I had a customer who had a mac and I had him do that so he could use it in our office PCs. It may depend on MAC program used though. I've never used MAC.

Ohhhh! No way! If you go forward a little more and look back, she's crawling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Did I shoot her when I cliked on her? Is it a her? Shouldn't there be a chalk line instead?

I do IT work at an Army base and feel for ya. But if you want lots of reasons for digital scrambled eggs,... Army cyber security is for you. My local stake center has wifi and it works great (not Utah). I'm an Elders Quarum Pres and got our code from someone in the know. At a PEC the Bishops counselor was lamenting the fact he needs, but doesn't have the code and quite fell off his chair when he found out I had it. "How did you get it?" I recall him saying. Rather smugly I said, "It's who you know!". I had a good time with that and was debating a bidding war before I gave in.

I've been trying to locate this without success. Although I found something on "priesthood of believer" by Merrill J. Bateman of the Presidency of the Seventy in the Oct 2003 Conference: http://lds.org/general-conference/2003/10/priesthood-keys-and-the-power-to-bless?lang=eng&query="priesthood+of+believers".

Ignore that last remark,... er this last remark too (he he he)

I've read that too, it's so good. Ya gotta love the gifts of the spirit. Sisters used to do it all the time. Most members don't know a sister can do miracles let alone that they used to lay on hands (shhhh). (This did change in the early 1900's I think, but I can't remember who changed it right now) I like D&C 35:8-9 " 8 For I am God, and mine arm is not shortened; and I will show miracles, signs, and wonders, unto all those who believe on my name. 9 And whoso shall ask it in my name in faith, they shall cast out devils; they shall heal the sick; they shall cause the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak, and the lame to walk." You can look it up here: Doctrine and Covenants 35* Got Faith?

A government review for a secret clearance doesn't do bio-metrics yet. But it checks finger prints and goes deep into finances and info about family members too but no DNA stuff, a top secret check is more probing than that . I wonder if the DNA thing will change the airport security check-in later on?

When I saw the poster, I did laugh out loud. Even harder when Vort then explained it. Made me think of my kids and the current generation. I appreciated the sense of humor. Sorry it you wern't joking though.

Well, this has been an interesting thread. Time stuff gives me a headache when I try to grasp it. I get it when discussed on Sci-Fi shows like Star-Gate SG1 (what do you mean it's not doctrine! ), but loose it when the scientist (sorry, can't remember his name) in a wheelchair discusses it on the Science channel . I do understand from the PoGP the earth has it's reckoning of time and it's different than God's reckoning. In or out of time? Good discussion, but who knows but they who dwell not on the earth? Good to keep an open and active mind though. Vort I concur with you and I liked Dravin's comment too,... and there were others too. However, the question of doctine or not shouldn't keep a good discussion going or using talks, manuals or even other peoples books to augment the topic of discussion. I think that's one way we sometimes expand our minds and continue to learn. So,... thanks Jayanna.

The Handbook of Instruction #1 doesn't say anything about it that I could find. Nothing resulted from a search of the church news or the Salt Lake Tribune. I have heard the rumor too, but not from a reliable source.

Well, yes and the alarmist talk. I did get that, but your comment is a defining one and has important implications for us all to consider (in general), IMO at least.

Why not just say Christ is God's nephew? Can we not be just as close to Uncle God? It'd be easier if it was said that Christ is "like" a Son to God if a closeness is being shown rather than using words to denote actual offspring. You have a better explaination than I've heard before but I just can't wrap my head around it but your statement helped a lot.

For the last 4 decades (that I can speak of) it has been taught that Sacrement meeting and Priesthood/Relief Society is 'commanded'. If you look at the block meeting setup with this in mind it is no wonder that SS falls between the two. However, the only doctrine on this was mentioned and it is that we should meet together often. Everything after this is opinion, interpretation, conjecture, or admonition or some other thing, but commanded specifically it is not. Still, love of the Lord will bear the fruit of full attendance if we are otherwise able. What "able" means is an individual or family decision.

Hmmm, Makes me think of other examples of how we use that word. Do you mind!! (similar to "mind your own business") Hey? Do you mind if... I don't mind. You must be outa your... (opps, wrong use) I guess there's also "minding the store". There are other words to wonder about too, like fear (fear the Lord), and heed (give heed), or even 'live by' every word ect. Seems like 'keeper' like 'your brothers keeper might be related too.

A blessing can be requested or solicited by the individual needing the blessing or a person who has a vested interest in the person needing a blessing (as discussed in the Church Handbook of Instruction). While it doesn't really discuss a variety of examples of who would be such a 'stakeholder', family members or custodial guardians qualify in my mind. I think that may (in some cases at least) extend to home/visiting teachers or church leadership where their stewardships intersect with the person if not usurping parental/custodial jurisdictions. I think Dravin gave good examples of 'soliciting' blessings.

Bravo Miss Eowyn, Brav-O! (on several levels if I may say)

I was thinking star gate too. Nice! But it may have looked a little different when it glowed and rotated. The period is after Enoch (if the guess is +- a hundred fifty years or so) and during Methusalah, Lamech and when Noah was a strapping young guy of nearly 200 hundred years. Noah was an Elder at 10 years old (assuming they had the office of Elder). Old Jewish texts make Jerusalem an important place going way back before Abraham so since it was before Ipads took off it is conceivable the room may have been used as a Temple or maybe even for initiatories if I care to make that stretch... uh, yeah I guess I'll entertain that since it makes more sense than a jello mold factory or what did someone say? Graffiti?