porterrockwell

My only suggestion to you would be to sacrifice some time you may usually set aside and perform charitable acts for those in need. If you have a family, include them in this service. You will find that as you serve your fellow man you will feel an increase in love for them and understand somewhat of what your Father in Heaven feels for them. This same love is the substance that supplied a supernal sacrifice called the atonement. That element of giving is the true spirit of christmas. THat is all I feel compelled to offer as advice. THis self same method has been a wonder for me in my life.

For me it all started when I decided to go on a mission at 19. At 20 I sent in my papers and was called to the OHIO-Cincinatti mission. I was in the MTC Jan. 14 of 2004. I was feeling good, loving the MTC, trying to love some of the guys going to Cincy with me and getting the itch to get out and start proselyting. Unfortunately, I am manic(and hadn't yet figured it out), and it came on full tilt right before Feb. 1st. It was a friday, and I had talked to a counselor about my anxiety and depression that I was experiencing, so he got me on some temporary medication for the weekend. That next monday I was called into the office at the middle of lunch and told I was going home and I had two hours to pack and get on the shuttle headed for SLC. So I got sent home and was really down, for a good few months. Then the counselor I was seeing just happened to be LDS and was called to be the branch president of a branch about a half hour away from my house(in Lakewood, Washington about 10 minutes from Tacoma). He told me it was small and the church was going to dissolve it if it didn't make it, so this was it's last chance. Well, I accepted the call(along with my sister as well, my irish twin) to go and help build up the branch and get it going. The first sunday that I walked into the chapel I saw 6 Young Adults. That's it. However, through much hard work, those of us who started out as the originals of that branch developed a bond like that of a close-knit family. Within 6 months we were above 50 members and by a year it had leveled off at about 88 members. Not to mention that 75-80 percent of our "sacrament meeting attendance" also attended FHE, Institute, and all other activities provided by the branch. Then the call came from my homeward bishop to return to my mission, but this time in the Temple. So I did. When I first got to Bellevue and started working at the Temple things were going well. Then medication troubles set in and by my 6 month mark in through my 8th month I was at my "Gordon B Hinckley moment". I didn't feel useful, like I was becoming anything, and that it was a waste of money to have me here. I just wanted to quit. However, my homeward bishop sat me down and got me to focus. That is when I started doing ordinance work in the Temple and since then I have found the extra energy I have needed to make it through my trials. I will also be returning to the Bridgeport Branch, and instead of just saving the ward from dissolving I feel a great desire to labor in making it a ward. So that is my story, there is more to it than that, but I don't think anyone really wants to read a novel online. I'm just glad I have experienced what I did, because now I will never be able to deny what I know to be true. This Church, my God, the Lord and Savior even Jesus the Christ, his Holy House, those wonderful and sacred Temples in which we bring families together forever to live with our Heavenly Father in happiness that is never ending. The spirit of that temple hones and refines me, and slowly but surely uproots the natural man within my being and brings me closer to that Christ-like submission to the divine nature of which I so humbly wish to attain. That is my witness. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

First of all, salvation or being "saved" will come to you regardless of whether or not you accept Jesus Christ and his teachings. It is an infinite atonement, unless you become a son of perdition(which very few will ever have the chance to do), you will recieve a level of glory. Now, exaltation on the other hand is a different matter, to enter back into the presence of the Father recquires not just the first principles and ordinances of the gospel-which are 1. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, 2. Repentance, 3. Baptism by immersion for the remission of sins, 4.Laying on of hands by the gift of the Holy Ghost(by one have authority and being commisioned of Jesus Christ...by line of authority)-but also EVERY saving ordinance available to the human family through the Lord's sacred Temples. Not to mention ADHEARING to the covenants you make and taking the neccessary steps to repentance when such covenants are violated. I can't personally understand this whole "pray and be cleansed" deal with the EV's. The spirit within us needs a chance to heal, a process by which to refrain and strengthen itself against it's former weaknesses. Do they not understand combating the carnal nature and that without process there can be no cleansing effect? Unfortunately I have a dear friend who is mormon and believes all you have to do is pray and you are forgiven(even for the major stuff), and i can see nothing more dangerous or cancerous than such a perceptions and understanding(or lack thereof) of the atonement and how it works in our lives. To say that one need only accep Jesus Christ and nothing after that can keep from the presence of God is a petty and irresponsible concept. If I am correct in my understanding the Gospel of Jesus Christ brings one to a knowledgeable and accountable state. The "EV way" takes accountability out of their hands and returns them to a terrestrial state as they were in the garden of Eden(in concept), hence the fall means nothing and you are no more like him than Adam and Eve were and this probationary period is meaningless. Let's not forget that you have also limited what the Atonement can do for you and you fall short of the measure your Father in Heaven created you for. You do nothing to honor his glory by existing in such a way either. I apologize for the soap box, but just some things that needed to come out. Plus, it's my P-day, so, other than studying the scriptures all day and listening to 2005 General Conference on CD I have nothing better to do.

Because religion (yours and theirs) was created by man for man. The Creator, whomever or whatever that is, had nothing to do with it. And if a given religion does not satisfy the needs of it's adhearents, then they must of necessity move on. Now you know. ← The only thing I KNOW(and I'm not talking "by faith,"...I KNOW), is that the true church of Jesus Christ is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. "The Creator, whomever and whatever that is"? Surely you cannot be serious, the foundation of any belief regardless of being a deist, Jew, EV, or Mormon will and must always be one of faith. Now, that being said to exercise faith and recieve the righteous fruits of such a principle one must practice such within that of the true church as consecrated by the gift of the Holy Ghost(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.). Most of the time men and women leave the Church of Jesus Christ because they have injured themselves through living outside of their convenants and been left to the buffetings of the adversary. If any be offended by that statement, you will not recieve an apology from me. You choose not believe the truth once you have been brought through the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 36 Behold I say unto you, Nay; neither must ye lay aside your faith, for ye have only exercised your faith to plant the seed that ye might try the experiment to know if the seed was good. 37 And behold, as the tree beginneth to grow, ye will say: Let us nourish it with great care, that it may get root, that it may grow up, and bring forth fruit unto us. And now behold, if ye nourish it with much care it will get root, and grow up, and bring forth fruit. 38 But if ye aneglect the tree, and take no thought for its nourishment, behold it will not get any root; and when the heat of the sun cometh and scorcheth it, because it hath no root it withers away, and ye pluck it up and cast it out. 39 Now, this is not because the seed was not good, neither is it because the fruit thereof would not be desirable; but it is because your aground• is bbarren, and ye will not nourish the tree, therefore ye cannot have the fruit thereof. 40 And thus, if ye will not nourish the word, looking forward with an eye of faith to the fruit thereof, ye can never pluck of the fruit of the atree• of life. 41 But if ye will nourish the word, yea, nourish the tree as it beginneth to grow, by your faith with great diligence, and with apatience, looking forward to the fruit thereof, it shall take root; and behold it shall be a tree bspringing• up unto everlasting life. 42 And because of your adiligence and your faith and your patience with the word in nourishing it, that it may take root in you, behold, by and by ye shall pluck the bfruit• thereof, which is most precious, which is sweet above all that is sweet, and which is white above all that is white, yea, and pure above all that is pure; and ye shall feast upon this fruit even until ye are filled, that ye hunger not, neither shall ye thirst. 43 Then, my brethren, ye shall areap the brewards of your faith, and your diligence, and patience, and long-suffering, waiting for the tree to bring forth cfruit• unto you. Remember Jason, you always have a choice...how are your roots?

True, but you better know the emotional stability and mental maturity of the person you are kissing before you make that kissing start happening. You can create a lot messes for yourself and for them. I just don't understand why it is so hard to follow the GA's and the Brethren. The last time I checked I raised my right arm to the square and sustained the Twelve as prophets, seers, and revelators, as well as any other good standing member of the church. They speak on these topics with the insight they do for a reason. But then again, I will always advocate the admonitions of the Brethren no matter how staunch they may seem.

Well, I guess I should introduce myself. My name is Elder Bell. I was BIC(born into the covenant) raised all around the Pacific Northwest. During high school I heavily questioned whether or not I wanted to go on a mission. At 19 I decided I would be a fool not to spread the what I had received in the Gospel to others who were waiting in darkness. So I sent in my papers in (mid or late)November, got them back a week and a half later and was in the MTC Jan. 14 2004. I was called to the OHIO-Cincinnati mission. On February 1st I was sent home on medical release(manic depressive). After being sent home I felt dejected and incapable of returning to the mission field. In late February while meeting with my counselor(who is LDS) I was notified by him that he was being called to be a Branch President of a branch in Lakewood, Washington that was struggling and being given one last chance before it was dissolved. There were about 5 or 6 individuals(Young single adults) actually attending and he extended an "unofficial call" for me to help him build the branch. Which I accepted. I spent that next year in Elders Quorum Presidency working to help build up the branch, and from what started at 6 souls(much like the start of the church...wink..j/k) ended when I left at 80+. In that time I gained a knowledge and testimony of Church government and revelation. Little did I know that the Lord was preparing me to return to the mission field. Approximately one year later my home ward bishop called me in and requested that I return on a mission to the Seattle Temple and finish my call. That is where I am today, since I have been here I have worked on the grounds, in the cafeteria, and as of a few weeks ago and ordinance worker. Being in the temple as much as I have has started the refining process within me and around me that will help me return to Heavenly Father, and to lead a christ-like life. I have also since serving in the Temple(I have nine months left on my call) joined the Bellevue Institute Council and found an even greater love for unity and scripture than I had before. I do not understand how anyone can doubt the Lord's matchless work. Or how one can stray from the warmth that permeates from the Gospel and living it's standards. How blessed are we brothers and sisters to have the truth in the Latter Days.

Im talking about making out. And if you feel as though you can "arouse" sexual passion without getting into trouble then that is your deal. But I would recommend against it(at least previous to marriage..) and I believe I stand with the prophet on that one.

Its only a put down if its after the 1st date. And also, we want what we cant have...so if I just went around putting out. How desirable would I be? ← Kissing on the first or even the second, maybe even the third, is over-rated. Where is the extreme pleasure of anticipation? If you are going to kiss someone that you care about or be kissed by someone that you care about, for me anticipation is everything. HOWEVER, I have to believe the prophets. Kissing should be reserved for a relationship that is going somewhere as opposed to a goodnight recreation at the door. But I am a picky woman, so following the prophets advice is easy. What's that saying about having to kiss a lot of frogs to find your prince? Frog-kissing is highly over-rated. ← Even if you aren't picky, kissing should be reserved for something special. Keep the passion out of it as well. I know that sounds prude, but it always starts with passionate kissing and goes very much down hill from there. And yes, if anyone is wondering I practice very much what I preach.

I do not remember the General Authority who gave the quote, but in short stated "When a Latter-Day Saint marries outside of the faith, that individual has left their agency in the hands of a spouse that may or may not accept the Gospel." Regardless of your opinion on the topic, I don't see how anyone would want to sacrifice Eternal Life for a 30, 40, or 50+ year TEMPORAL relationship that can't ultimately bring you the fulness of joy that our Heavenly Father experiences. Not to mention you are introducing children into the world without the covenant, and that could end up resting upon your head and the great and terrible day of judgement. To me it is black and white. Unless that person is willing to get baptized(with an honest witness of the Holy Ghost) and live worthily to enter the temple, it just doesn't seem worth it. But again, I like to adhere as faithfully to the doctrine of the church as I possibly can.

I have a friend serving a temple mission at the Seattle Temple too actually, small world. :) However, unless my friend or yours has ever been in the room...how can you categorically say what it is or isn't? Not that my testimony rests on all temples HAVING to have a Holy of Holies...but if you read in the OT, the original Mosaic Holy of Holies (Kodesh ha Kodashim in Hebrew) wasn't terribly large. Closet-sized is pretty ambiguous...I've seen some pretty huge walk-in closets myself. But then, maybe the prophet likes walking all the way to the 5th floor to hang his coat in his special closet. :) ← Is your friend's name Josh? If so then it is me. From what I gathered only a select few Temples have Holy of Holies. By the way LeGrand, I met your grandfather while working at the temple on Friday(Just got my white coat), cool guy, we are also all praying for your dad. Keep the faith brother.

I'll get your dad on the Prayer role at the Temple. Where are you from AK and if you want to email me your dad's name I can take care of that for you.

Dyed in the wool, true blue through and through. Nice to be back on the board, tis been a while.

, "Oh, and the prophet goes there too...he's got a room set aside for him." Holy of Holies perhaps? :) ← Not a Holy of Holies. I have a dear friend who works(Im a Temple Missionary there) at the Seattle Temple and she says it's nothing more than a closet sized room with a door.

First of all, politics can be a very successful modicum of progress. However, where we see degradation of such a platform for government is when activist judges start "darwinizing" the the Constitution. Second, I don't see any issue but the war that Democrats should be up in arms about with the president at this point. Me being a young conservative see this 2 term individual for what he is. A spender. We have massive power within the ranks and a majority around every corner...not to mention the leverage of the vote from the american people and we still can't buckle down and stick to our fiscally responsible measures. Someone made a good point on the Mike Savage show a little while back. We have had the Bush's and a Clinton in the whitehouse and the deficit has soured under their control. Now I would expect such a thing from bill clinton. But not from Bush 41 or Georgy Porgy. Thank goodness I am Mormon, because when the country seems to outright stink, I can just get into the government that doesn't let the people down.

Let's not forget that the Lord said not to run faster than ye are able. The Jews got to wrapped up in knowledge and forgot the basic precepts of intelligence. Intelligence is the Glory of God, but knowledge without the application and subjection to intelligence is useless in the kingdom of God and adverse to the Glory and light thereof. The Lord makes known the things of his kingdom through plain and simple manner.

Amen shan, I just recently got some info on pro-life stuff in my area. I do not agree with protest, I prefer to do things administratively, but will definately be getting into the thick of it. Ironically enough shan I just got done reading the subheading about atheism in "Articles of Faith"...your statement really backs up what he had to say.

Look, Do you believe that Joseph Smith was a true prophet, do you believe that he translated the Book of Mormon through the power of God? If so then what is the problem. None have led you astray if you still believe in the church. I have found that those who teach false doctrine within the church are taken care of by the Lord. Traveler, maybe you are overthinking this a little bit.

I'm a dude and seeing that someone could even describe that attrocity(almost brings me to tears) and justify it as not being a murderous act makes me wanna throw up... WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!!! I agree with Shan and others, although I haven't had the opportunity to have a child(although I can't waith for one personally), I know how important that process of birth is to our Plan that God has layed before us. It's murder, abortion is killing someone and excuse my french but those Liberal ######es need to get a political backhand and nice tall glass of shut the hell up. I believe in choices, but part of that choice is to stand up and fight for what I KNOW is right. I also agree, enough about this topic.....

I think it is time to cut Jason loose, clearly he has the ability of an infant to grasp the truth. Don't come on here and spew that Christ saved you from Mormonism. Gimme a break, your reasoning is as faulty as the foundation you stand on. Good luck with the rest of your life dude, what a joke. You rely on such abominations for your guidance...such error. WE ARE THE ONE TRUE CHURCH, WE ARE HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE. How bout joining your apostate brothers over on christianity.com or one of those other lost parties. Wow, I'm so sick and tired of such ignorance.

We are all born with 2 major things...weakness and agency(among others the light of christ also). "Bad things" are a result of one exercising their agency in a manner unbecoming of the that light and giving into weakness. I like plainness, I think sometimes as human beings in our "quest" for knowledge we dig a little to deep and miss the real reasons and meanings of lifes occurances and questions.

Actually in the MTC I was spiritual, and only spoke when I was speaking doctrinally. The teachers wouldn't let me answers questions anymore or expound because noone else would speak up. My "attitude" was to be in the MTC for those who the Lord would touch through me. My conditions are CHEMICAL IMBALANCES, which, no matter how hard I try, do not change without medication. That's like telling a diabetic, that his attitude and not the lack of insulin is the reason he is suffering. I wasn't there for me, I saw what happened for guys who didn't have there heart in it, or were there for them. Something I never realized, was that my patriarchal blessing foretold it, I just never read my mission paragraph that in depth until after I got home. But now I am helping build a struggling branch so that in itself is missionary work, and I have been teaching and giving sacrament talks every other week. So my attitude has been very good. That and I went from getting my first mission bulletin and letter from my mission president to going home within a span of two hours. Plus, my parents nor my stake president were ever called until I was just about to leave the MTC. Which my stake president was not happy about either. So my overal ATTITUDE was pretty damn good considering the circumstances. And most guys I know would have stopped caring and been casual Mormons from there on out. And do ya' know who just happen to be preying on all the mixed emotion.....hmmm...I wonder...so being home in itself was another battle. But as the song goes "Put your shoulder to the wheel". So I did, and now, I am apart of a truly inspirational situation that would build an atheists testimony in God. In the end if you want to further your "banter" on the topic go ahead, but I'll go twelve rounds with anybody, and I'm not somebody who hits the canvas. Later.

i see it pretty much the same way maureen, however, we have someone close to my family who was raped and she still had the child and gave it to a family who had to adopt because they could not have children....so I believe that there are those out there who are so charitable that they still would not take the precious life of a child, even in this case.

What I am saying is, from what I read, from what I have learned, is that the Lord is glorified in his obedience to Celestial Law and his understanding of it. And that what good is the ability to create something, if you never use it. I'm not saying that my existance is in someway equal to that of God's. But from what I have felt after praying and searching the divine principles he has set forth, he wouldn't be as happy without Divine Stewardship. He is the Father of countless intelligences, imagine how happy it makes him when his children even through trials and imperfect tabernacles follow that which is Celestial Law. What we sometimes forget is he still has a work..."For this is my work and this is my glory, to bring to pass the immortalality and eternal life of mankind". He is perfect and will not fail, but part of his Celestial progression is his Divine Stewardship...."God is that man might be", that's all I am saying. I personally cannot wait to have kids, and being of the same substance of my Heavenly Father won't that yearning for pro-creation and rearing through Celestial Law exist as an eternal and divine principle by which we are governed and glorified??? I don't know, just my thoughts, I'm also very young too, so if any of this sounds philosophical or blasphemous, let me know, because that is the last thing I want to be.

Also, I did apologize to the admin and agree that such posts should not exist if they offend.

First off, God does need us, we are his children, that is how he is glorified. Divine Stewardship. What good is the power to create something if you are not gonna use it to fullfill Celestial Law. Eternal Progression is such a beautiful thing, and I don't personally feel that God doesn't need us, there is a love and a new level of understanding we gain through stewardship, without that, in what way is he Omnipotent???? I think Eternity would be miserable if we did not have the ability to create and care for those intelligences we endow with mortal tabernacles. Anyway, that is just me. Here are a few things purtaining to "philosophy" and intelligence. "The intelligent man glories in righteousness, not only does he KNOW truth, but WISELY applies it in all his actions" "The Glory of God is intelligence, or, in other words, light and truth. Light and truth forsake that evil one." "Man was also in the beginning with God. Intelligence, or the light of truth, was not created or made, neither indeed can be." "Satan has great knowledge and therefore power, but he has no intelligence, or light of truth, which is the Spirit of Christ.....If he had intelligence, or light of truth, which comes only from God, he could not possibly be the adversary of all righteousness" These are all quotes from "The Way To Perfection" by Joseph Fielding Smith. This is definately one book that I believe would answer a lot of questions that people have on here(if the book of mormon and praying haven't already).