Magen_Avot

Well,.... ok then.

I couldn't bear to let it go.

YEAH RIGHT!!!

Bee's Knees? Hmmmmm,... Urban Dictionary: bee's knees OLD TERM FOR... 1. Cool 2. High Quality 3. Slang for "Business" also meaning High Quality 4. 1920's for wonderful 5. Pothead for excellent weed ....HUH??? 6. "B's 'n E's" as in "be all end all." The best Eowyn,... just how old are you???, not that it's any of my uh,... bid nez

Now that I'm in Doha, Qatar, My oldest son at college located in soughern Oregon, my youngest son in Alaska on a mission, my youngest daughter on a mission in the Dakota's and my wife at home in WA State it was a bit problematic to organize a "Mothers Day" family reunion, courtesy of the digital age. First was my missionary daughter at 1am (my time) and we used skype. I paid the extra so we could all talk together. Read closely, BEFORE the need arises. You can 'talk' if only one caller paid the extra, but you can't see each other (only I could see them all). So,... for what I had hoped for,... it was a waste of money and extra frustration. We ended up just making separate calls. I'll have to cancel now. Waste, waste, waste. At 4am (my time) my missionary son was able to use google+ because of family distribution. I had just opened my google+ account earlier in the evening. My first thought was, "goodbye skype". While chatting, I noticed my college son had something floating above his head. It was a tiarra that floated above his forehead and moved with him. I quickly learned a few more things while on the call and installed the fun stuff and was quickly changing from a cat face, beard, glasses, devil horns and all the rest. There were cartoon faces with funny expressions and sounds like applaud ect. Now,... I feel robbed by skype. Don't get me wrong, I've loved it and it has been a big piece of my Middle Eastern experience for the last 6 mos, and it's been awsome for one on one calls. I will probably still use it with calls to my wife, but I can't see passing up google+ and an opportunity to act like I'm back in middle school. If you use distance communication/video calls outside of basic cell/telephones, what do you use Skype, Google+ or is there something else I don't know about?

Iron Man 3. Ok, but final battle scene was something only Vort could properly berate. I will next watch the new Star Trek movie in IMAX 3-D while in Doha, Qatar for only 65QR (Qatar Reyals $1=3.65QR) or something like $15

Well, the only thing my mother-in-law knows is that my wife is the mother of our children. As for me,... she said she can't be sure I'm the father. It's good she's not keeping the history in my case or Charlemagne just might end up being my childrens father. Anyway, I had read this article: How many generations have there been since Adam and Eve No doubt it's guesswork, but honestly, it's all we have right now. It was interesting to me personally, because my siblings and I are generation 144 according to what we have. I was interested in knowing where others fell in context to the article, if they were willing to brave the "rain".

I was thinking about some family history and we have a line that is tracable to Adam due to some fortunate connections to royalty and the tribes of Israel. If we accept that there are no errors in historical records the generation number we are is known. I was just wondering if anyone else out there also knows what generation number they are? Or other interesting info related? I don't want to give up the 'number' til later.

...yep! And that's where I actually got the quote from the other day.

This OP does ask a hard hitting question, but some responses have grieved my heart. No matter what our individual take is, LDSQuotes.com has this to consider: If we cold look into each other's hearts and understand the unique challenges each of us faces, I think we would treat each other much more gently, with more love, patience, tolerance, and care. ~Marvin J. Ashton

At meals my family holds hand around the table. It was to control little hands in the beginning. Now it's a family tradition and my 19 -25 y.o. kids bring our guests into it. Sometimes I fold arms, sometimes hands. I haven't seen anything different in my multinational Middle East ward. The interesting thing is,... (back home) I'd look around the congregation on a rare day. Sometimes kids/teens will look around and when they see you looking at them sometimes they respond in funny ways, like 'snap' their eyes shut so fast it had to hurt.

Does one go shopping and pick out a 50lb bag of 'obesity'? It is a result not a choice itself. Setting out on a quest to instruct/inform/teach or change the dining habits of a target group would benefit from some planning. When missionaries visit an investigator they don't say something like, "Why did you choose to be a member of the wrong church?" We make an invitation and teach/baptise those who are 'ready'. The point is that there are many ways to present your topic based on what you want from your audience. (added) This is not in reference to the OP, sorry,... should have stated that earlier. So,... love the eater yada, yada, yada.

This is serious! No $4000 printer would be able to print a dress within church standards.

You must have lazy boy chairs for the HP's.

While on my mission I and 5 other Elders went to an RLDS meeting and listened to Apostle C. Eugene Austin speak in Ontario, Canada. It was interesting and I'm glad I went. I also had a husband/wife investigator come to church. They were late because they first went to the RLDS church in town. Despite the anxiety that engenders, it brought opportunity to answer more questions, as you might imagine.

I taught my kids using the following with endless true life examples. "The stupid shall be punished" However, I learned this one from my scoutmaster one night on a camp out and I've tried to live up to it all my life since. (with limited success, but success non-the-less) "If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem."

I stay,... because it is true. From real... profound... answers... to prayer. From experiences that are personal and undeniable. Consider repelling. The first time you throw yourself over the edge backwards is a remarkable experience where you have worked to overcome the paradigms of your mind and "trust" what you've been instructed. It's not something most of us just do, we have a struggle. The instructions are in the scriptures and the words of our Prophet. The 'edge' to overcome is in our minds. What we learn from the experience transcends mortal understanding. You can share it with others, but the experience is lost until 'they' do it for themselves.

As has been stated, there is no official doctrine that answers your questions. That said, there are probably more opinions on this topic than people to hold the views. I do know there are threads that delve into non-doctrinal opinions/experiences on spirits and ghosts which you may find interesting. But there is no definitive answer, either by science or revelation to your questions. Are you asking for opinions? I have about 12.

I understand there were 11 who acted in the office. Two were never officially called or set apart and not all were direct decendants... if one trusts Wikipedia. But this is an end of an era, none-the-less. May he and his family be blessed.

I know this is a few weeks old,... sorry for that. My daughter who left the MTC about 6 weeks ago has been called to this position and, while aware of her lack of mission field experience, is trusting the Lord to help her serve well. My daughter blames me for this; however, since I gave her a father's blessing, and in that blessing the spirit dictated that she would hold leadership positions in her mission. She had given me one of those "looks" and said something about there not being any leadership positions except senior companion or trainer. Funny that! She was thrust into the postition of senior companion and trainer 2 weeks into her mission with a companion who speaks only Spanish - and my daughter didn't. As a father, I could go on... oh yes... But my point is to add to what Anddenex said. Evidence of a "living Chruch" and a "Living God and His Christ" touches our very lives as we look forward with faith and serve our Lord and Master. (gasp for breath)

It's neither for me. Like Dravin, I sometimes experience some anxiety right before I get up, and may skip points I want to say but I'll take giving a talk over teaching a class and have really enjoyed speaking in Stake Conference of 2000 or so. I like classes less in my home ward because of the lack of member participation most times. I was an instructor in the Navy for 3 years, demonstrated and facilitated a number of groups around 300 and was quite confident and comfortable. Level of prep, the audience, whether I feel like a subject matter expert, barometric pressure maybe. It just depends sometimes on intangibles.

If you compared the childhood sport of duck pin bowling ,... to regular bowling I think we get a good gospel lesson. If we are comparing "Christian" methods/beliefs ect. When we'd take our kids duck pin bowling we'd have like 10 small bowling balls, so we'ld throw three seperate balls per frame. In regular bowling ya throw just one big ball. Can you see the trinity thing there? So really, as we LDS might want to view things, moving from adult bowling to duck pin bowling.... becoming as a little child. MAN! I see a whole bunch of gospel lessons here. Added: For the newer converts we can just put the bumpers out while they learn the ropes, but surley we are all blessed by their enthusiam in Christ! Thanks PC

I'm very sorry, I didn't mean to suggest anything other than I had found some articles that might be helpful. I was at work at the time on a break. I went back to find one of the Ensign articles June 1975 Personal Interview Procedure Strengthens Priesthood Home Teaching https://www.lds.org/ensign/1975/06/keeping-pace/personal-interview-procedure-strengthens-priesthood-home-teaching?lang=eng&query=%22personal+priesthood+interview%22 I quote: "... the personal priesthood interviews are an essential part of watching over the Church and take place as often as necessary and at any time during the month, except on Monday evenings." Also no author listed. It's certainly meant for instruction rather than mandate but regardless of the date I feel noteworthy, and a window into how far back the PPI concept may go. But the HBoI it's not. The last one you listed was also one I had seen. I realize this isn't what you are really looking for, but it's well intended.

I've heard of PPIs forever myself. Had only a few. I was just released from EQP 4 months ago and for those two years I, and my councilors did conduct them, but I didn't get to all of the members. Like you I don't like prying. The goal was once a quarter for us, but our focus was "what can I do to bless and serve you and your family". We didn't invade privacy or respect- per my definition of invade. There are no specific guidelines for "PPI" interviews, however if you do a search for "Personal Priesthood Interview" and filter it to 'Melchizedek Priesthood' you will find chapters in priesthood manuals going back to 1975, and talks before and after 1980. Did you ask for and get any feedback on it? It's always nice to know, but in the end we love, forgive, forget, love (again) and serve. So just do your best!

There went out an irrevocable decree: When moma's not happy,... NOBODY's happy! May I also add... It has also been my experience that I didn't even do anything that moment, day, week, month or since the last leap year! When I return home after this year in the Middle East, I'm building a 12' high 12'x16' barn style shed to replace the tent.