Anddenex

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Everything posted by Anddenex

  1. I, personally, would disagree with the OPs assertion. In our home, before any of our children are baptized they must read the whole Book of Mormon and apply the challenge given by Moroni. Actually today, I get to baptize my daughter, who two weeks ago finished reading the Book of Mormon and applied Moroni's challenge. My oldest son, the second time he read the Book of Mormon (he is eleven and on his third time reading the Book of Mormon), I told him the most important learning in the Book of Mormon is about Jesus Chirst. I asked him to come down stairs and tell me what he learned about Christ. Every night until he finishd the Book of Mormon the second time, he came down stairs, when he read, and would tell me what he learned about our Savior. This was great because it allowed me to share with him additional knowledge or correct what he had misunderstood. I am all for children reading the Book of Mormon, they must receive a testimony themselves, and what better way to gain a testimony of the BoM then by reading it themselves and applying Moroni's promise.
  2. Misshalfway, can I also be your little brother. This is the 2000s, if girls can play sports, then I can cry too! :)
  3. Looking back at my experiences of dating, before I met Kristi, I wish I would have relaxed more. I wish I would have read this book "Being Human" before I was married, as one element of the book focused on embracing our pain, our hurt, accepting it for what it is, experience. I wish I would have cried my heart out, one-night, the next day recognize that the sun rises also with new hope. I wish I would have recognized the importance of honoring someone's agency and embracing that agency. I wish I would have been able to look at the girl that broke my heart, and knowing what I know now, saying, "Thank you." I would not have been able to meet Kristi, unless you broke my heart. And then, embrace their friendship again (after some time of being able to control my feelings, in other words, I am not trying to move a relationship forward that ended). Instead of allowing myself a little bit of spitefulness, ok, maybe a lot with one girl. Take this comment as you will, these are my regrets and my regrets alone, and actions I wish I could take back, but am grateful for the atonement. :)
  4. Within the gospel of Jesus Christ, and pertaining to repentance and godly sorrow, I am always reminded of Nephi's words (2 Nephi 4: 17 - 20): "My heart exclaimeth: O wretched man that I am! Yea, my heart sorroweth because of my flesh; my soul grieveth because of mine iniquities. "And when I desire to rejoice, my heart groaneth because of my sins; nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted." (emphasis added). 1. We should be mad, upset, when we have transgressed laws by which we know are wrong. This is in connection to Nephi's words, "O wretched man that I am." 2. Like Nephi, we should then transition our hearts to remember in whom we trust. In whom we love. In whom died that we might live. Jesus Christ. 3. In my experience, a persistence of anger, verses allowing the atonement in our lives is a direct result of a mind which knows they are doing wrong, but is unwilling to change. This is one of the ideas presented in connection to "wailing and gnashing of teeth." An unrepentant sinner verse a penitent sinner. In essence, it is a mind and heart condemning itself, in contrast to a mind and heart which dwells on the words of Christ who said (John 3: 17): "For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved." Or as Nephi declared, "Nevertheless, I know in whom I have trusted." And we all know Nephi trusted. 4. I don't agree with the idea that people must hit rock bottom before they change. This may be true for some, but not for all. Hitting rock bottom is the idea of a person who must be compelled to be humble verses the individual who chooses to be humble. As President Benson declared in his talk on pride. We can either compel ourselves to be humble, or wait until the Lord compels us.
  5. What if we only have a splinter?
  6. At the end of my mission, something I wish I would have understood at the beginning of the mission, I discovered how important the aspect of faith is to the word of wisdom. In the beginning I tried to prove to investigators all the good for not drinking and all the bad for drinking or disobeying the word of wisdom. I duly noted that anybody who had issues with the word of wisdom, the big ones: coffee, tea, alcohol, etc... it mattered very little the positive and negative affects they have on a person. What I truly discovered is that they didn't have a testimony in the calling of Joseph Smith, or the restoration of the gospel, and the importance of obedience. I begin to realize more and more why we were told to teach nothing but faith and repentance. I would assume you have, however, have you asked your son regarding his feelings toward the Prophet Joseph Smith? Does he see him as a prophet? When I received an affirmative response, I simply then would say, "We keep the word of wisdom, not because of all the good and not because of all the bad that may result, even though this is a good reason to stop, we simply don't because we love God and keep his commandments. If God were to ask me to stop drinking Kool-aid, then I would stop drinking Kool-aid." It was amazing to me how simply this worked on people then trying to have an intellectual discussion on the health benefits. These are my thoughts.
  7. I am understanding the quote to mean, whether we think we are being tactful or not, even if we implant a softer word, the meaning is still the same. Nothing has changed. If nothing has changed, depending on context, is it then still appropriate to say.
  8. Yes, unfortunately it is true in China. As a result of the one child policy, and the desire for a male child, unfortunately baby girls are either aborted or have been drowned at birth. When a woman is above the age 35, they are automatically placed in what is called a "high risk" pregnancy. Pregnancy, due to age, is harder on a woman's body. What makes you think you will be more mature when you are 35 - 38 to have children? Maturity, is a result of experience and character, not financial position. YaYa, a person looses a lot of credibility when they begin to mock third world countries. I have never understood the arrogance of people who think they know more than a loving father and mother, God revering, who are poor, and seek to tell them they have had to many children because they are poor, and that they would have been better off to have 1 or 2 children, verse 5 - 6. A person looses a lot of credibility also, when they begin to knock and bring more pain upon their parents due to their financial circumstances. I am not saying this is you, and I hope it isn't, however when I hear some of your language I am reminded of my brother's experience of hearing a young women say, "Can you believe it, my parents bought me a Honda, instead of a BMW or Mercedes. What jerks." Very sad way of thinking and thought, which is usually a by product of financially indulging parents.
  9. The random statements little children make. Example, this was spoken by my youngest son, "Mom, I want to tell you a story. Once upon a time there was an alien who wanted a dinosaur cake so he stole it, then he stole another and 3 and 4 and 5 and ate all of them. He got a tummy ache so I made him a bed and let him sleep in my room."
  10. I do. I am 36, and when people meet me they think I am between the age of 24-26, until they ask how many kids I have. Last year, or a couple years back I was in the temple and a lady asked me where I was going for my mission.
  11. First, when I think of suffering there are some variables I think of: 1. A direct result of disobedience 2. A direct result of obedience 3. Life sometimes, just sucks (to put it bluntly) Suffering in connection with disobedience typically will not strengthen or deepen ones faith, it will have more of a tendency to continue in disobedience and for some the ultimate loss of their testimony. Example, a person in high school who decides the one drink of alcohol to appear cool with their friends isn't bad. It is only one drink. Until that drink leads to another drink, and then another, until finally the spirit has fully withdrawn from that individual. In these circumstances, these are the young men and women by which wards are seeking to reactivate, or attempting to activate. Suffering in connection to faithful obedience, will have more of a tendency to deepen ones faith. However, it will only deepen ones faith if the person is willing to accept the outcome, and then positively move forward, waiting upon the Lord for his answer. Some of my most important revelations have come through great trial and tribulation, by which I more fully understood Paul's words in Romans 5: 1- 5. However, I have one suffering or tribulation, which has had the opposite affect, and has not served to strengthen my faith, and a tribulation I still struggle with and right now am not thankful for (just being honest). Suffering in connection with "life just sucks sometimes" will have either affect also. If a person's attitude is in the right place the suffering will give experience, and at times make it easier to suffer more.
  12. Ha ha, I am sorry, I know this isn't funny to you Annatess, however I must admit I feel a sense of jealousy regarding your son. In middle school, I don't remember any girls coming up to me and calling me cute. I would have been like, "Heck ya! They like me! You want a hug, no problem, see me in the morning, and I can definitely give a hug after school also." Well, it is a good thing that the young ladies didn't find any interest in me until my junior year in high school.
  13. Pressure? Yes, there is pressure from the Church to choose an eternal companion. I won't go into details regarding the words Elder Richard G. Scott spoke during one of our Zone Conferences, however his preface was this, "I don't know why I am being impressed to speak to you regarding this topic, understanding that marriage should be the furthest from your thoughts..." As Elders we were informed by Elder Scott to have a goal of being married 9 months after our missions. Pressure? An Apostle. Time given. Just a little. Why would Heavenly Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ be concerned about keeping up with times pertaining to marriage? This is one of the reasons why we have received the vision of the tree of life, IMO, the great and spacious building representing "keeping up with the times". Keeping up with times is a slippery slope. Should we keep up with times regarding tatoos? Earrings (all my best friends have earrings at least in one ear, and my very best friends have one in both ears)? What about keeping the law of chastity, should we keep up with the times in this also? I knew a member who whole heartedly believed that it was better for members to have sex before marriage, gain practice, this way we are better experienced lovers when married? Or maybe we should keep up with the times in cohabitating? Actually, live with the person, potentially have children together, and then decide if we are good match. Marriage is a matter of maturity and character. I was 23 when Kristi and I were married. She was 19. When it comes to maturity, motherhood, intelligence, wisdom, character, and determination, she is 1 in a billion of woman. Honestly, I am a little biased regarding her, however anybody who has met Kristi finds her extremely mature and personable, and intelligent. I have met 35 year old women and men who are less mature than a 19 year old covenant keeping, goal-oriented, woman. The option of choosing a persons companion should be a balance between the desire for marriage and choosing the right companion. If we rush to quickly, we may find ourselves with the wrong companion. However I have always been intrigued by Specer W. Kimball's words when he said if he could he would line up all the young men and young women at BYU and then get them through the temple sealing all of them. I am glad to say, Kristi and I surely prove your friends wrong, 5 kids later, happy marriage, and we started early.
  14. I don't believe this is correct Wingnut. As an EQP once, and from what I read in the church handbook, I always needed to ask the Bishop to issue a calling. It is actually advised because a EQP may not know everything about an individuals worthiness. If an EQP issued callings, without speaking with the Bishop, then this EQP may find a touchy situation by trying to call a person who was unable to hold a calling. Calling and sustaining without Bishop's approval can actually lead to confusion and chaos within a ward. Example, the EQP calls an individual, sustains him, and sets him apart only to find out next Sunday this same individual is called to another quorum or auxiliary, and it is back to the revelation board. Whereas, if the EQP would have counseled with the Bishop, as counseled, the EQP would have been informed that this person is already spoken for.
  15. Overall, I feel the same way as others who have commented on this thread, that the broadcast was more favorable, and my personal feeling, it was definitely better than the broadcast produced by PBS a few years back. I would agree with the sentiments provided regarding Abby Huntsman, and the feminist woman. I would also be more curious regarding what her Bishop actually said verses what she said he said. It would have been nice also if they would have portrayed the feminists who had been excommunicated in the right light. I don't believe the feminist who were excommunicated, and this lady shown on NBC are yet in the same opposition.
  16. Where is your laugh button Pam? I am unable to click. Thus, LOL
  17. Yes, this happened at least once a week while on my mission knocking doors. I have said this prayer, assuming it is the same one, more than once. I am with you, either way, I am "saved". :)
  18. Is there a site I might be able to see this broadcast? I have tried and failed in my attempts to locate it. All I am pulling up is short trailers for this. Thanks.
  19. I read from another individual the potential being this: Group A - Those spirits who were noble and great Group B - Those spirits who chose to follow Lucifer Group C - Possibly this group are those who were not distinguished as the noble and great ones, but still accepted Jehovah.
  20. I am reminded of the Lords words, "I am the way, the truth, and the life..." We understand his path does not divert to the right or to left. Truth, doesn't exist in the same space a lie does exist. We stay on the path through the principles of faith, hope, and charity which leads all humankind to do good. So as not to be misunderstood, this could be better said, faith in Christ, hope in Christ, and have the pure love of Christ. A lie is evil. Charity thinketh no evil. If one thinks no evil, it will be hard for a person then to lie. This question could go more in depth towards, partial truths, milk before meat, etc... However, this suffices the question.
  21. There is nothing we can do to have the site shut down, and in all honesty, although I thoroughly disprove of these types of sites, opposition is necessary in all things. It would do us, and the church, more harm to bully them out, then to honor their agency.
  22. I am in understanding the same.
  23. We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men. Indeed we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul. WE believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report, or praiseworthy, we seek after these things. I think this suffices for a good definition of a "good member".