LDSGirl24

Hi guys, I would really appreciate any advice or thoughts you might have on this... I will preface by saying that I cannot deny that Heavenly Father has given me a talent for reading/writing; I've had too many confirmations that have been answers to prayers. So... A while ago I found a paper from Kindergarten identifying me for reading intervention for phonemic awareness (apparently I heard words that rhymed but had trouble naming another) and initial consonants. I've talked to a reading specialist who says this is not uncommon, and that I could've only had this intervention for a little while (which is what I remember). Regardless, this little yellow piece of paper has totally shot my confidence. I remember always raising my hand in that class and having to force myself to give other kids a chance and my homework from that period is 98% correct. My parents think I'm being ridiculous; they keep telling me God's given me a gift and that this short-term intervention thing means nothing, but I can't stop worrying. I just have a hard time believing I had this trouble, as I've always been grades ahead in reading and scored at a post-graduate school level (diagnosed as gifted in reading and writing) despite never attending college, and was so sure of myself. I've always felt that reading has come easily to me. I've never had to work at it. Reading and writing have always been what I've derived my confidence from. Thing is, I prayed before my "gifted" testing for Heavenly Father to help me know if He'd given me talents for reading and writing, and in the report the psychologist referred to them as "such a talent," and I still to this day feel like this was the answer to my prayer. I also prayed when I entered some writing contests to make it in and have success if it was His will, and I ended up beating out hundreds of entries. My Bishop even told me once that I had a way with words and should write a book. His hand is obvious to me in my life and the more I pray about it, I know I shouldn't worry about this. I know there's no need to worry; all phonemic awareness is is the manipulation of sounds. Not a big deal. But still... I feel like this doubt is really affecting my writing career, and I feel really stupid. I know Heavenly Father's probably disappointed in me for doubting these gifts He's given me, but I don't know how to stop. I can't deny them but I can't calm down. Please help. Thanks so much! :)

Hi Dahlia, Thanks for taking the time to help! :) I definitely do want to help others through my reading/writing. I've given a couple of talks at church already and I really enjoyed that and want to keep doing it. Also, I’m a fiction writer and hope to use that outlet to inspire/lift others through my words. I'll keep the literacy program in mind for sure, though. I really don't like history (I’m a huge thriller fan), but I've been into medicine/surgery (veterinary, human, neurosurgery, orthopedics, trauma, cardiothoracic, etc) since I was little and I've been thinking about getting into reading that stuff again. Maybe I'll start now that you've spurred me on! :) The only problem I have with libraries is that I like to have all of my books on shelves in my room, and I think I’d have a hard time parting with library copies, ha ha. Plus, I like to have them on-hand to read again whenever the mood strikes. Do libraries ever sell them? You’ve really motivated me to work harder than I ever have to develop my gifts. Thanks! Oh, and while I have you, any book recommendations???

Thank you for phrasing that better! You hit the nail on the head about feeling awkward. I totally meant what you said. :) Like you said, I certainly don't want to make the conversation about me, and I do feel like I have to be super careful so I don't say the wrong thing or say it in the wrong way. I don't want my comments to make them feel like they can't relate, either, like you also said. I'm glad you told me about how you handled the beer thing, as I have the same problem! :) I think for right now, I'm just going to keep not talking about it, because I'd rather do that than say the wrong thing, you know? I don't want to chase my friends away. Better safe than sorry... Thanks so much for taking the time to help me, and ginger beer IS really good. :)

Hi Dravin, You’re right; I most certainly don’t want to do that, lol! Sometimes my friends will talk about how much they hated this class in school or how this class went, etc. I always felt like I had to keep my mouth shut and just nod along with them so I wouldn’t say things like, “I remember how alone I felt when I’d look up from finishing a reading assignment to discover that I was the only one done and would be the only one done for at least the next ten minutes.” I just want to be able to talk about my school experiences honestly without people thinking something bad about me.

I really appreciate all the help you've given me, and I will definitely look into getting my blessing done! I feel a lot better now. Thanks so much! :)

Thanks!

Thanks for taking the time to help me! I tried what you said; I just talked to my mom about it. I prayed that I’d know what to say to her and then just jumped in, and I think it went better than I thought it would. I told her I felt that God made me good at reading, writing, etc, and asked her if she thought He made me good at these things and she said she did. I took this as a very good sign. :) I told her I felt uncomfortable talking about my talents and she asked me why and I told her I didn’t want to come off as arrogant because that’s not what I was AT ALL. Then she said she couldn’t see what going to the bookstore every week did since I already know how to read. I told her how we’re supposed to always work on developing our talents and just kind of left it at that. Sigh. I guess it’s at least a step in the right direction, yes? Do you think I should say anything else to her? Hopefully we’ll have a more in-depth discussion in the future. I really want to, anyway. I think the more I talk about it, the easier it will get. *Crosses fingers* I haven’t had my patriarchal blessing yet, but I definitely want to someday. I’ve been praying a lot about it over these past few years, and I really feel like I’m supposed to have a career as a fiction writer, especially when I look at where my abilities and passions lie. Should I get my blessing really soon, do you think? Also, do you have any ideas about what else I could do to not feel so embarrassed about talking to people about being gifted or other activities besides reading I could do to further develop my talents? I’d love to be able to talk to others about it without worrying that they’re going to think I’m bragging. Thanks so much!

Hi, I'd very much appreciate any help I can get with this... As I understand it, and according to lds.org, Heavenly Father has blessed all of us with talents and abilities that we brought with us from the premortal existence, and we have an obligation to develop them as best we can and use them for good, to help others, etc. A little over a year and a half ago, I was diagnosed as "gifted" in a few academic areas by an educational psychologist after years of suspecting this and pushing for the testing as a result. With my completely average IQ score, I shouldn’t be performing at the levels that I am, yet I do. I chalked this up to God-given talent, since these particular areas have always come naturally to me. But lately I’ve been feeling a little unsure. When I first got the results of the testing, I felt like they were an answer to my prayers in that they confirmed a lot for me. I still feel like this, and I’ve continued to pray for understanding of my talents, but now there’s this voice in the back of my head that keeps saying that maybe I’m not talented in the areas I think I am, or that I don’t have any talents at all. This is really worrying me, because I KNOW that we all do. I want to erase this doubt more than anything but I don’t know how. I’m also very uncomfortable discussing my “giftedness” with my parents. Just the thought makes me very embarrassed, and I don’t quite know how to go about it without coming off as arrogant. I know I’m not better than anyone else and I always pray for humility and to continually recognize my Heavenly Father’s hand in everything in my life, but I don’t know how to bring it up aside from saying, “Hey, did you know I’m gifted?” Who says that to someone? I mean, seriously? How can I feel secure in knowing what my talents are, stop doubting myself, and talk to my parents about being “gifted” without it coming out wrong? All I want to do is have the confidence I need to use my abilities for the good of others. I’m very grateful for the things I’m good at and I don’t ever want to take them for granted. I thank Heavenly Father for them every day. Thanks!

If parents are not sealed in the temple, and are never sealed to their children, what happens to their kids once they die? I think I read on LDS.org once about parents having no claim to their children in heaven, and that the kids would be orphans and would later be adopted into other families... Can anyone elaborate on that??? Thanks for your time. :)

Hi guys, I was just wondering if anyone knew of any authors whose books I could buy at, like, Barnes & Noble, as opposed to having to trek to an LDS bookseller whenever I want books. As long as it's clean and fiction, that's all I really care about. What/who are your favorites? Some of my current favorite authors (LDS) are Jeffrey Scott Savage, Sheralyn Pratt, Steve Westover, Julie Coulter Bellon, Anne Perry and Jack Lyon. My favorite non-LDS authors are Jan Karon, Jamie Ford, John Grisham and Maeve Binchy. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much for your time!

Hi guys, I would really appreciate any advice you could give (from an LDS perspective). Yesterday, an extremely inappropriate ad suddenly filled my computer screen. I have no idea why this happened or where it came from. Let's just say it was something I would never search for in my life. I was so shocked that it took me a minute to realize what I was looking at, but when I did, I got rid of it as soon as I could. I mean, this is something I would NEVER, EVER view. Although this viewing was accidental, I still feel very guilty about it, and I'm constantly afraid it will happen again. I'm always extremely careful about what and how I search. What should I do? I've prayed a lot about it already and I'm still nervous. Thanks so much!