SpiritDragon

I'm not sure what to make of your reply. I asked @Rob Osborn a question and supplied some additional background information. As part of that I explained that I don't do the best with repetition of the same material, but understand that isn't the point. You respond with excellent material from the manual. The implication? I'm not sure. Perhaps, because you are intending to help correct me because of this particular statement? That is understandable and admirable. I put this information in to give context but not because I feel it is the goal. I had hoped that the following part of my comment would have clarified that: Please help me understand your reply better. What is the motive or point?

Can you elaborate on the techniques that the new manual and you have in common? I haven't yet found anything that is particularly new and exciting. It seems to me that the manual has scriptures to read that instruct on certain principles. It asks some questions to help us think about what is being taught, something that any inquisitive person does while studying anyway. I think for me the biggest value will be a hopefully improved sense of accountability to be studying material together as a cohort and discussing it as well as having a guide to help keep me thinking. My first time through the scriptures I was very interested to know what I would discover, subsequent re-readings have left me feeling like sometimes I'm not going to get anything new out of it and my interest wanes. However, the purpose isn't my entertainment value or curiosity anyway, it just makes it easier for me when I'm more intrigued. For the same reason, I rarely watch a movie twice and if I do it's usually been a few years since the last watching. I'm looking forward to seeing how much more I can learn by having a church-sponsored program of study at home instead of trying to get my family on board with my own ideas of trying to continue personal and companion/family study similar to when I was a missionary. I find that with greater repetition it is helpful to get other perspectives that elucidate points in ways I wouldn't have considered. This is where I think family and sunday school conversations will be helpful. All that being said, I don't want to be misinterpreted as thinking that intellectual understanding is more important than the conversion of desire within the heart. Sometimes it is this very thing that makes me excited to dig into the scriptures even though I have read through the New Testament several times, the Book of Mormon dozens and the other standard works completely at least once, but more often than not just when searching out particular topics.

@zil that looks it would get hijacked as a drafting table and I would only lose more space It's a cool idea though. Maybe in my next house - someday.

You may be to paper and pens what my wife is to yarn and fabric. I am getting a better picture of your challenge already Now you just need to use the materials you already have on hand then... or just stick to a journal.

It requires greater concentration if nothing else and that alone makes a huge difference.

Winning over the space is huge. Conquering the environment should be really helpful. I'd like to do the same, but I can't figure out how in my life situation. The dining room table is about the best I can do. It's just not terribly cozy and not always available... when it doesn't have food on it, it is often covered by crafts and mail that my wife have on the go - so much so that it's not always available for eating either. Truly sad, I know.

You could also investigate using loose leaf and putting it in a duotang folder or binder. That way you can rearrange your master pieces and insert new content anytime without worrying about having pages go to waste. You can pick different papers to go inside and colour coordinate them by chronology or topic and come up with a system to match them to your pen collection

I used a study journal on my mission with some success. It was helpful for compiling various sources on topics and also for helping keep my place in sequential reading in the event my book mark fell out during discussions. I just used a coil-bound scribbler and it worked fine, but I'm pretty simple when it comes to these things. The hardest part for me is I don't have a good designated study area. I like to just curl up in an chair or bed and read, but then switching between books and taking notes is a terrible nuisance.

This reminds me of my first Christmas as a missionary when my companion and I were invited to several Christmas dinners. At one of those dinners they had bought gifts for us and made there children wait for us to come over so we could share in the experience of all opening presents together. It was a super nice gesture, and at the same time we both felt awful that the kids had to wait until 5:00 pm to open presents - that's 12 hours late on Christmas What a way to create a sense of animus toward missionaries in the young children; I would have been so disgruntled if I was told to wait until evening on Christmas to open presents when I was 7 years old.

No, you make a good point. I wasn't trying to suggest that the church has been doing it wrong, just that I was surprised with how much missionaries do get away with and not because it's kept secret, but because it's not a get-sent-home worthy offense. It would have nicer to be have higher levels of obedience, but it's also true that a little leeway isn't always a bad thing, I'll admit that I slept in when I was sick, I figured I'd heal faster and get back to being more effective. I had one companion who wouldn't let me sleep in when sick or rest on preparation day and I was the most ill I've been in my life and it took six weeks to kick whatever I had... once he was transferred and I could get some rest I was back up to strength in short order. I would never go as far as to say that rules are made to be broken, but sometimes a less rigid interpretation might not be so bad. It's not my place to determine when, why and who.

I also have to say I was surprised at how many missionaries stayed in the mission field who clearly had no plans to ever abide mission rules. I understand the stigma attached to coming home early, but the work would sure be easier without needing to babysit less active missionaries who simply aren't committed to obedience with exactness. It's not like the rules should come as a shock to anyone.

When I graduated highschool my family ward bishop essentially told all of the young new Elders to leave home for at least six months and then go on a mission. He was convinced that it would help us learn to get along with room mates and be better prepared to cope with home sickness. I've never experienced home sickness so I don't know about that, but I do think there is value in the idea of getting out of your birth home for a while before going on a mission. The same could probably be said for marriage. It's little wonder that missions are recommended before marriage

The list I watched did not have Canada anywhere in the top ten, which seems accurate. While Canada does have many things that would be helpful such as sheer size and climate comparable to Russia, resources to be self-sustaining for a long drawn out conflict, an educated populace capable of manufacturing innovative technologies and strategies to name a few, we lack a critical factor which is an identifying unity. For instance, if the US wanted to invade Canada, I would estimate that at least 1/3rd would happily capitulate because flying the stars and stripes vs the maple leaf would simply not be a big deal to them (although if Trump were leading the charge, plenty of people would want to resist that). I suppose though, that if a drastically different culture were invading, we might rally together behind our official languages and democracy. We would need a real leader and not just some election accident to be able to unite us. Our current PM seems excited about the idea of us having no identity to be unified by. We might just implode on our own. There is no doubt that up against a powerful technological and highly populated enemy we would simply lack the man power and equipment without allies coming to our aid at least initially until we could set up the necessary infrastructure to mount an effective resistance. Without NATO and the UN, Canada would need to consider putting a lot more effort into national security.

For the little ones

Thanks. That seems correct to me as well. I would hope that studying and understanding the events leading up to the second coming would be helpful to reduce anxiety and decrease being swayed by doom and gloom prophesies. After all, the coming of the Lord is wonderful to the righteous. As for living so that we are ready to meet our maker, there is no doubt that for many of us we'll likely arrive at that juncture before the Lord returns and we all need to be living right because we don't know when we might cross from mortality into spirit life. *this reminds me of An American Tale... "there are no cats in America"

This doesn't bode well from my perspective, but it also isn't insurmountable if you're both willing to work on communication. Sometimes, the problem is that people aren't honest enough with themselves to admit what their needs and wants are or they lack the self-esteem to believe they deserve to have those hopes and expectations met. I believe it's important to take an inventory of non-negotiable qualities you'd like to see in a potential mate. People can change, but as a general rule they don't. So if you are self aware enough to know what you need and want out of a relationship you can save yourself and others a lot of time and frustration once you know those non-negotiables aren't present. On the other hand if they are present, then it is worth while to continue exploring the relationship. You've broken up before but got back together which leads me to wonder why get back together if there is no connection? Was there ever? Is it simply a physical relationship? If so that really does seem like playing with fire to be in a relationship that isn't going to fulfill needs beyond the physical ones. Those urges are strong and the absence of any other connection seem likely to pose a real problem. A couple thoughts here - staying in a relationship because you don't want to hurt someone is a bad reason, it hurts more to be in a dead-end relationship than to be set free. Be honest with yourself and him. Also, you mention being hung up on a past love. Is this past love still available to you or has that ship permanently sailed? Is your lack of connection with the current young man strictly because of being hung up on some one else or because your current guy isn't really doing it for you? You may want to consider getting help getting over your former fellow if the current fellow is as fine a young man as any, but you are simply in a place where nothing is going to ever be good enough. I would also suggest that you be careful romanticizing over a former love. It can be easy to build people in our minds to be perfect when we aren't faced with their imperfections. If you have created an unrealistic standard in building up a former crush into a demi-god who will fulfill your every dream and no one else will ever have a chance then you may very well have sewed the seeds of discontent in yourself because no one is going to measure up and you'll always be left disappointed. Either way, in your current situation I think you either need to call it off or let the young man know that you need a break to sort things out. This may have the same net effect, but it leaves the door open to reconvene if it seems right after you deal with your emotions about the former fellow.

With this as the backdrop I couldn't resist: This one's for you Mirk!

I've never done this before either - had to give it a try. Thanks for sharing your forum super powers

I'm posting this link to keep track of it. https://www.lds.org/ensign/1972/05/the-future-of-the-holy-land?lang=eng Interesting events that need to take place in the Holy Land.

I couldn't find a good rendition on Youtube with my limited effort, but I believe I found the account you are speaking of:

Glad to have a fellow fan out there!

"til all are one! You could always opt for the universal greeting: How weird can that be? I just happened to take a stroll down memory lane and it seemed so fitting.

Thanks for clarifying. I am definitely guilty of misunderstanding intent. I have no idea whether there is an in crowd or not and I'm certainly not trying to create a pity party for myself. I just appreciate how @clbent04 could be feeling on the outside. I'm good with blending in as long as blending in is in line with the gospel of Jesus Christ. I hope you can find the peace you need to either address the frauds in a way that is productive for you or to be able to let go of this kick you're going through.

I suppose that answers things a little; It puts me squarely in the not posting enough to be a known commodity category. That or just not having any insights worthy of remembering. I would hope to be considered among the faithful.