Jane_Doe

Things only go to the stake level if the person in question is a priesthood holder. The OP here is female, so it does not. This issue already been settled too:

@MaryJehanne: you might find this amusing: Ironically, the person who's currently getting on my nerves as rude/argumentative/belligerent person that I really should walk away from the conversation with is: a religious discussion with an over zealot Catholic

No, the hope is always that they will return. The only ways a sealing can be undone is if 1) the person resigns from the Church and chooses to have it undone, or 2) is excommunicated from the Church. Another big thing to remember here is that we do need to honor our sealing and other promises with Christ. So while a person who converts to Islam won't have their sealing formally revoked in this life, if they continue to reject Christ until the Final Judgement, then they have rejected this promise.

I hear you there, and have the same problem. I keep hoping that the person will change, even when that's clearly not being the case for that conversation.

God's grace works with you the ENTIRE time.

Hi @MaryJehanne, it's great to see you again! Love, gentleness, listening, humility. First few offenses, speak kindly the message to the gist of "X kind of rude. I'd like to have a polite conversation, can we work in that direction?" If it become clear the other person is just an aggressive jerk that can't be reasoned with: hit the "ignore" button. I don't need that toxicity in my life. I hear you there! I have the same struggles regularly. Some places (like YouTube comments) it's just best to avoid those toxic pits.

That's my husband's boat when he comes with me and daughter: "I'm here to support my girls". And support he does. And people thinks it's awesome (cause my husband is totally awesome).

Hi @ConfusedCath! Welcome! I am an LDS lady married to an non-denominational / Evangelical dude. We have a wonderful marriage and beautiful daughter, whom I'm raising LDS. I'm also a nerd who loves to understand different faiths, so I've studied Catholicism pretty intensely (which of course involves attending many Catholic services). Daughter has also visited a variety of churches with me (just last Friday we were at a Episcopalian church for Christmas hymn singing). A HUGE foundational part of marriage is respecting your other spouse, even when you disagree on matters. I love my husband and respect him fully, even if he's very "whatever" about Joseph Smith, and I think Joseph Smith is a prophet. He in turn totally respects me and my beliefs as well. Neither of us need to be silent or otherwise hide our beliefs from our daughter. She's still young, but starting to understand that some people have different beliefs and how we respectfully talk about that. For us, we also have the common core of important things like Christ, His atonement, prayer, etc. That is the foundation of the Gospel, and I'm sure what drew you to both Catholicism and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I will be honest and say that I mind more of His Truth and His priesthood in the LDS church than I do Catholicism or Evangelical, but I readily acknowledge that Catholicism and Evangelical do still teach many important Truths. I do still love modern-day revelation, pre-mortal life, and other doctrines not taught elsewhere. Ask God for peace and guidance. He will give it to you, His beloved daughter. Re coffee & beer: the Word of Wisdom is a promise we make with God, to avoid these foods, just as the ancient Israelites avoided pork. If I were to drink a coffee, then that would be bad because first and foremost because I would be breaking my promise with God. Whether or not the coffee is actually unhealthy isn't the point -- it's that I promised God I would pass on the coffee. My non-member husband has made no such promise with the Lord, and hence is not violating that promise if he drinks a cup, so he's not doing anything "bad" that way. Then you guys will talk about it then and cross that bridge then. Until then, it's not really productive to run each possible "what if" scenario. (I've mega been there freaking out and running "what if" scenarios) Not remotely ostracized. Nor would your husband be ostracized if he's Catholic or atheist. We welcome everyone. Heck, we had the ward Christmas party last weekend and I think people asked "how's your husband?"....4 different times? And they laughed when I was "Mr Grinch is hiding at home with ear plugs in because he hates Christmas music" (and then I got more serious).

(This question wasn't addressed to me, but I'll answer it anyways) I think everyone who leaves the church has gone through a hard time and a deeply personal struggle. Emotions are always involved here (emotions are always involved in every decision every person makes, religious or not). There's the struggle to understand things. I wouldn't phrase this as "something is wrong with that person", but rather my thoughts are "that human being is human and struggles". Ok, background of where I'm coming from: when my daughter was born, she had a life-threatening defect and we were flgiht-for-life'd to the emergency children's hospital in another state, where we lived for a month. She made it through (modern medicine is amazing), but of the course of that month I came to know many families that haven't made it through. I've since watched my good friend loose a baby to a un-repairable birth defect. I've since had two horrible miscarriages myself, both of which threatened my life with complications- without modern medicine I would have indeed died both times. I don't find God to be a micro-manager that just rains down medical tragedies on certain people to pick on them. Rather, biology in this world is an imperfect mess, and crap sometimes happens. It is completely soul crushing, but it happens. And God is no more with the families that drive home with their kid than those that didn't. God is just as much there to mourn with those that mourn- and yes, God does weep. He weeps more than you or I ever could. And He helps each of us stand up afterwards- which is just a much a miracle as curing cancer. He heals the shattered soul, making it stronger than before, grows strength in dimensions the person never knew before. And of course, He paves the way in which that child will once again be with their family.

I'm not sure if you want this cancer half-question responded to. If you do want it responded to, I'd be happy to do so (writing as a person who's watched little kids die and nearly died myself). Again, it all depends on intent. And some people are more comfortable talking about certain subjects than others. For example, I'm happy to talk about my own battle understanding the decision to not allow children of gay parents to be baptized until they are adults--- and yes, that was a battle for me. FWIW: I've seen that same train-wreck occur when non-religious people have a deep tenet of there's challenged, and that challenged is handled by less than grace.

If you want to attend a Institute class, you're certainly welcome to. A big picture thing to remember though: classes (any class) are never suppose to be the mainstay of your spiritual development or to replace your individual study. You can (and should) study each chapter in depth as the Spirit leads you during your personal study.

It's not just a convert thing. I was raised LDS. My dad's side is blue-blood pioneers. And I spent 10 years studying and worrying and chasing questions before getting endowed.

And you always listened to the answers we gave and we have awesome conversations

Totally agree. For me, I always give someone the benefit of the doubt starting out. The difference in intention (whether to learn or to smear) then comes out talking with them: learners we have a great conversation, anti's get frustrated I don't really believe in flying pigs.

Once again: Jim, you are a blatant anti-Mormon. You continually use tactics that go against Christ's ways (such as you constant spinning of things) and your blatant goal is to lure people away from Christ and His Church. Such is not remotely of Christ and only serves the devil. Ignoring this truth and my saying of it doesn't change your devilish/anti intentions and methods.

Jim, you are a blatant anti-Mormon. You continually use tactics that go against Christ's ways (such as you constant spinning of things) and your blatant goal is to lure people away from Christ and His Church. Such is not remotely of Christ and only serves the devil.

*thumbs up here* Intent is the big deal. If something is sent with the intent of "and you STILL believe this load of hogwash", then that's mocking and not of Christ. I applaud you if that's honestly not your intention. Again, it comes to intent. Clarifying and solid conversations are good and welcomed. Attitude of "and you STILL believe this load of hogwash" is mocking. The best lies are 97% truth and 3% spun falsehood. Dan Reynold's movie does a LOT of spinning has to not reflect the real intention/beliefs of the Church. The LDS faith is not remotely saying "you must choose between loving your gay child and loving the church!".

We did this GC talk last week! It was fantastic. And the picture of that river are awesome https://www.google.com/search?q=meeting+of+waters+brazil&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjorNuDuZPfAhUDHTQIHbbbD38Q_AUIDygC&biw=1440&bih=839 Not at all! The entire purpose of the Gospel and the Church is to make us all one with Christ. And what if the new person is another weirdo? (Such as me).

This is an issue of timing, not the importance of eventually making promises with God. It is common for a person to get endowed before mission or a sealing (as it is required for both). Other people this isn't the case and they simply time things as to when it feels right. I myself was one of those "other people". I was raised LDS, but didn't serve a mission and haven't been sealed to my husband yet. So the timing was completely up to me. I know some people that get endowed when they are (early 20's ish). But for me, that wasn't right. I was nearly 30 when I finally felt that it was right. And I that decision was entirely confirmed then and in the years since.

The ex-mormon readits are anti-Mormon toxic pits best be avoided like the plague they are. That's not because every ex-mormon is anti at all. But the culture of the ex-mormon readits are. And mocking is always anti behavior. 100% agree with you there. For example, my favorite aunt is ex-LDS. She's still my favorite aunt, whom I call regularly for advise. Honestly, I find such broad "what if" questions not very helpful. There's a lot of things could go down, and we should also not forget a person's individual relationship with Christ and seeking Him for answers. I know I have done so when I've found something troubling in the past. MormonStories is an anti joke. That's not to say it can't have 97% truth, but the show's creator has blatant anti intentions and has hence been excommunicated for apostasy. Again, critical topics I totally welcome discussion. But not using anti methods.

What an anti anything person IS: someone who spreads blind hatred by spewing out lies on a subject, even after they've been shown otherwise. Often times these lies comes as 97% truth and spun with 3% falsehood to give the wrong picture (all the best lies are largely based in truth). An anti person will also frequently conduct themselves in un-Christ-like manner and advocate others do likewise. All-in-all, an anti anything person is leading people away from Christ in terms of information and behavior, and hence should be avoided. What an anti anything person is NOT: someone who disagrees and/or is critical of another's viewpoint, as long as they conduct themselves in a Christ-like manner. I have no problem with people being critical of my beliefs (religious or political or social) in such a manner, and in fact welcome such dialogue to better flush our my own perspectives. Totally welcome all critical questions! 100% truth is never anti anything, such is impossible. The best lies are 97% truth and spun with 3% falsehood to give the wrong picture. I've never felt bad for learning more truth, not remotely. Never do I shy away from such topics. People are human. Humans sometimes do weird or wrong things. Forgiveness is always key. If someone gets unnecessarily offended on something, we each should forgive. If a person accidentally sticks their foot in their mouth, we should forgive them. You'll also find that some people are more comfortable and/or interested in talking about certain subjects than others.

Howdy!

Ok, so still got a way to go for understanding The salvation-is-a-once-and-done event mentality is a hard one to shake. This is a HUGELY important clarification. Knowing @Carborendum as I do (and LDS beliefs), this clarification is accurate. Though I can totally totally see how @Carborendum's original comment could be misunderstood as a "here and now" comment.

LDS people don't see the Gospel as being crushing at all. The OP you were quoting here ( @Telemantros) isn't LDS, but rather an investigator who was asking the question based off his understanding. His personal background was Protestant once-saved-always-saved salvation-is-once-and-done-an-event type. LDS are neither once-saved-always-saved people, neither or we salvation-is-once-and-done-an-event type of people, so this lead to a LOT of misunderstandings with @Telemantros. We of course talked them over and got things straightened out that 1) the gospel doesn't crush, and 2) the if/then mentality was applying isn't the LDS thought process. The LDS mentality is actually much easier to explain to someone coming from a Catholic background (because it's the exact same): we believe that a person comes to Christ over time, and becomes more and more filled with Christ's grace. Things like being baptized, confirming our faith, etc are steps along the way of a Christian life and the person & Christ further cement their bond. In regards to Moroni 10:32 specifically, there verse is not saying "you can only do this once you are totally sanctified!" No, no, rather it's stressing the importance of motivation: that he person is seeking Christ and not to serve the devil. Throughout the entire process (before, during, and after) Christ is using His magnificent power to fuel the process and help those to seek Him.

People get outraged because people do. I don't really care what idiot Trump did. As to the bigger picture of reciting a creed at a funeral: in general any religious things/says in a funeral should reflect the beliefs of the deceased and/or their families. Being respectful here is a big deal for me.