drham3rd

In Jesus' time, who were the conservatives and who were the liberals?  Most definitely, Annas and Caiaphas were the conservatives.  They were trying to maintain a long-standing orthodoxy and resist reforms.  Jesus was considered a dangerous reformer who had accumulated a group of misfits and ne'er-do-wells who were outside the system.  When anyone with connections to the "Establishment" got involved with Jesus, they did so secretly like Nicodemus for fear.  Those who accepted Jesus were put out (excommunicated) from the synagogues.  
 
In America today, the liberal party tends toward godlessness and secularism.  The conservative party leans toward sectarian religion and denial of modern revelation.  In essence, both sides believe in the same thing--a world in which there is no God who can speak now.  To paraphrase Parley P. Pratt, there are two kinds of atheists: one who believes that NOTHING is God and the other who believes that God IS nothing.  The end result is the same--when God speaks through revelation, both sides reject it.  That's why Mormons ultimately never feel completely at home among liberals or conservatives.

My wife and I got married in May 2013 so that my 80 yr old mother could be present!  We then got sealed this August in the temple.  But we both have been married before so our situation is different.  I would say that follow your heart and what your prayers to God are telling you.  I agree with those who say that the three people most important to satisfy are you, your spouse-to-be, and God.  What everyone else thinks or says in very secondary!
 
Good luck to you both. 

A suggestion from someone who has been there, try a separation first.  You and your wife sit down and draw up a separation agreement that details each other's responsibilities!  That should help each of you focus on what would happen if you do separate!  Go Iive with a relative for 6 months and spend that time in much prayer and searching the scripture!  Sometimes, being apart can bring issues into focus and help see what the real problems may be!

My counter argument to yours is that our country is tired of war!  We just finished fighting two wars, one that started out in response to 9/11 and the other based upon a bold-face lie!  Why should we waste our sons and daughters and our national treasury on a part of the world where most of the populace can care less who is in charge!  Iraq was Vietnam all over again and when we left, we left an artificial situation that had no-where to go but down!  The Islamic factions have shown repeatedly over history that they can not co-exist peacefully unless forced to by a dictator!  One has to look at the history of these countries to understand the real situation. Iraq should have been divided into three states, each one with their own form of Islam.  The unified Iraq was a British idea that really never worked!  
 
Yes ISIS is a threat, but let those countries directly threatened handle the situation!  Why are not the Saudi's and others in the region forming a response to ISIS?  We have too many problems in our own country, we need to concentrate on bettering the lives of our own people and let the rest of the world deal with their own problems!

I think this is a prime example of the age old problem that the press usually does a poor job of relating scientific studies of any kind.  Its a common problem that is irritating but not much we scientist can do except use the Internet to really explain our results to the public!  Also, I really think that this study is using sex as a measure of "success" and that seems very narrow definition of "success".  I'm a husband who does most of the cooking at home, simply because I love to cook and cooking is not one of my wife's most favorite chores!  What each spouse does to support the home and marriage is a complex, individual process!  Having been in churches (Baptist) where we were brow-beaten to follow more traditional roles; I find the teaching of our church to be most delightful!  Emphasis on the "equal partnership" of the relationship is so refreshing against the backdrop of the teaching of other churches!

Yes you can become a member at any age, I'm 58 and I've been a member since last June (2013)!  Study the LDS web site and get in touch with the missionaries!  They will help you and guide your reading of the scriptures.  It is never too late to repent and accept the Lord into your life!  Go for it, it will be a decision that you will never regret! 

From my experience of a 33 yr marriage that failed, one thing to think about is that you can do everything you can to support her and fully service her needs BUT if she is unwilling to reciprocate, then it makes for a difficult relationship.  I mistaking thought that I could make everything right by doing everything for her, I did all the cooking, cleaning, laundry, etc.  But, I have now realized that I was becoming a slave to her..so be careful about how you approach the issue of service to your spouse! 

PC, yes I did understand because the woman I was dating and married had been LDS for 30+ years, so I had an inside track on the commitment needed.  Also, because of issues I had been going through for the past several years in my personal life, I was actually looking for a lifestyle change and a spiritual journey that incorporated a lifestyle change.

As a convert for over a year now, I really do not find the LDS lifestyle that difficult!  As long as one is spiritually in tune with the Lord, it is not difficult to follow His commandments.  But I do agree that being Mormon is a lifestyle not simply a religion.  I fear that many converts do not fully understand this and that might be why its is difficult for converts to maintain their spiritual pathway.

As a convert for over a year now, I really do not find the LDS lifestyle that difficult!  As long as one is spiritually in tune with the Lord, it is not difficult to follow His commandments.  But I do agree that being Mormon is a lifestyle not simply a religion.  I fear that many converts do not fully understand this and that might be why its is difficult for converts to maintain their spiritual pathway.

As a convert for over a year now, I really do not find the LDS lifestyle that difficult!  As long as one is spiritually in tune with the Lord, it is not difficult to follow His commandments.  But I do agree that being Mormon is a lifestyle not simply a religion.  I fear that many converts do not fully understand this and that might be why its is difficult for converts to maintain their spiritual pathway.

Dahilia, I understand your post.  I guess since we live in the Appalachians Mnts, we are not use to flat terrain so that was probably the source of our exhausting. Not to mention that we drove straight through, all night from East Tennessee..:)
You are so blessed to be able to go to the Navuoo Temple, it is such a wonderful place!  Thanks.

As a convert for over a year now, I really do not find the LDS lifestyle that difficult!  As long as one is spiritually in tune with the Lord, it is not difficult to follow His commandments.  But I do agree that being Mormon is a lifestyle not simply a religion.  I fear that many converts do not fully understand this and that might be why its is difficult for converts to maintain their spiritual pathway.

Serna, I want to second James's response to you!  I too have experienced the loving atonement of Christ and can testify that He will help you also!  I have been there with depression, to the point of considering suicide!  But God can work miracles in our lives if you simply put your faith in HIM and keep in constant communication with the Holy Ghost!  Also, you might need to get involved with other youth in the church, we are not meant to go this life alone, we are social creatures and we need the love and support of others to help us!  
 
Also, you mentioned your parents divorced, be careful that you are not carrying unnecessary guilt about their break-up!  You had nothing to do with that!  It is somewhat natural for children to think that they might have played a role in the break-up of their parents, BUT you MUST not think that way!  Your parents made decisions, whether right or wrong based on their own free agency!
 
Hang in there and may the Lord give you peace and wisdom!

My wife and I went to the temple in Navuoo, Illinois for my endowment and our sealing this past weekend.  Wow, what a wonderful experience!!  I'm still working through the symbolism in my mind and I understand why so many say that it takes several times going through for one to even begin to fully understand some of what Heavenly Father is teaching us in the temple!!  I was kinda of taken back by how small a community Navuoo is; we counted three restaurants and one general gift shop!  But the history was very interesting.  The church has a wonderful visitors center just down the hill from the temple and it shows the history of the church and how Navuoo was settled.  I would recommend anyone who has the opportunity to visit Navuoo and the temple to take that opportunity.  Be aware, Navuoo is really out in the middle of "no where"!  No major highways, only state routes to get there.  It took us over 2.5 hours to drive the country roads from Peoria to Navuoo…all to see was cornfield and soybean fields…we were very exhausted by the time we got there.  

My wife and I went to the temple in Navuoo, Illinois for my endowment and our sealing this past weekend.  Wow, what a wonderful experience!!  I'm still working through the symbolism in my mind and I understand why so many say that it takes several times going through for one to even begin to fully understand some of what Heavenly Father is teaching us in the temple!!  I was kinda of taken back by how small a community Navuoo is; we counted three restaurants and one general gift shop!  But the history was very interesting.  The church has a wonderful visitors center just down the hill from the temple and it shows the history of the church and how Navuoo was settled.  I would recommend anyone who has the opportunity to visit Navuoo and the temple to take that opportunity.  Be aware, Navuoo is really out in the middle of "no where"!  No major highways, only state routes to get there.  It took us over 2.5 hours to drive the country roads from Peoria to Navuoo…all to see was cornfield and soybean fields…we were very exhausted by the time we got there.  

My wife and I went to the temple in Navuoo, Illinois for my endowment and our sealing this past weekend.  Wow, what a wonderful experience!!  I'm still working through the symbolism in my mind and I understand why so many say that it takes several times going through for one to even begin to fully understand some of what Heavenly Father is teaching us in the temple!!  I was kinda of taken back by how small a community Navuoo is; we counted three restaurants and one general gift shop!  But the history was very interesting.  The church has a wonderful visitors center just down the hill from the temple and it shows the history of the church and how Navuoo was settled.  I would recommend anyone who has the opportunity to visit Navuoo and the temple to take that opportunity.  Be aware, Navuoo is really out in the middle of "no where"!  No major highways, only state routes to get there.  It took us over 2.5 hours to drive the country roads from Peoria to Navuoo…all to see was cornfield and soybean fields…we were very exhausted by the time we got there.  

My wife and I went to the temple in Navuoo, Illinois for my endowment and our sealing this past weekend.  Wow, what a wonderful experience!!  I'm still working through the symbolism in my mind and I understand why so many say that it takes several times going through for one to even begin to fully understand some of what Heavenly Father is teaching us in the temple!!  I was kinda of taken back by how small a community Navuoo is; we counted three restaurants and one general gift shop!  But the history was very interesting.  The church has a wonderful visitors center just down the hill from the temple and it shows the history of the church and how Navuoo was settled.  I would recommend anyone who has the opportunity to visit Navuoo and the temple to take that opportunity.  Be aware, Navuoo is really out in the middle of "no where"!  No major highways, only state routes to get there.  It took us over 2.5 hours to drive the country roads from Peoria to Navuoo…all to see was cornfield and soybean fields…we were very exhausted by the time we got there.  

My wife and I went to the temple in Navuoo, Illinois for my endowment and our sealing this past weekend.  Wow, what a wonderful experience!!  I'm still working through the symbolism in my mind and I understand why so many say that it takes several times going through for one to even begin to fully understand some of what Heavenly Father is teaching us in the temple!!  I was kinda of taken back by how small a community Navuoo is; we counted three restaurants and one general gift shop!  But the history was very interesting.  The church has a wonderful visitors center just down the hill from the temple and it shows the history of the church and how Navuoo was settled.  I would recommend anyone who has the opportunity to visit Navuoo and the temple to take that opportunity.  Be aware, Navuoo is really out in the middle of "no where"!  No major highways, only state routes to get there.  It took us over 2.5 hours to drive the country roads from Peoria to Navuoo…all to see was cornfield and soybean fields…we were very exhausted by the time we got there.