peanutgallery

Thanks for all the advice. I made sure at the beginning to stress that the topic was eternal and important even if we weren't currently in that situation. Lots of people, including single women, made comments so I feel like it went ok. I seriously thought of faking sick and leaving early, but last month I taught the lesson in Pres. Uchtdorf's talk, "Lift Where You Stand." It was time to test me on that I guess. Thanks again for your help.

My lesson is on Elder Nelson's talk called "Celestial Marriage." I have a lot of single women and women married to non members or inactive members. My DH is also inactive. How can I apply this to everyone? I really wish I could just show a video. It's a pretty painful subject for me so teaching it is especially difficult.

It means that it's ok to drink Postum.

I think any time a drug is used without medicinal need, it is abuse. If I took hydrocodone once a week just for kicks, it would be abuse even though I was not addicted and only did it in moderation. The recent Ensign article states that caffeine is a drug and I see no difference between caffeine and any other drug - legal or illegal. They should be avoided unless medically necessary.

We like options so we own several cars. My main mode is a Pontiac Montana. Hubby usually drives a Mazda pickup. We also have an International Scout, Mercedes 300E, Jaguar XJ6, and a BMW 635CSi.

I don't think calling someone a "character" is an insult. Some of my favorite people are characters and I like them because they are characters. I only hope that someday I can be a character. I don't think the missionary was insulting when he said your problem was that you didn't serve a mission. People kid each other like that all the time. I can see a BYU alumni kidding around with a friend who is a bad football player and saying something like, "Your problem is that you didn't go to BYU." It sounds like he was just trying to make some friendly conversation. Maybe, because of things you have said about the church, your wife was a little overly sensitive to some joking.

Bytor, you are correct, I have been out of line.and I apologize for my tone and and harsh words. I get frustrated as you do. I believe in true biblical Christianity. Christians believe that the Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God, and that its teaching is the final authority (2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21). Christians believe in one God that exists in three persons, the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. Christians believe that mankind was created specifically to have a relationship with God, but that sin separates all men from God (Romans 5:12, Romans 3:23). Christianity teaches that Jesus Christ walked this earth, fully God, and yet fully man (Philippians 2:6-11), and died on the cross. Christians believe that after His death on the cross, Christ was buried, He rose again, and now lives at the right hand of the Father, making intercession for the believers forever (Hebrews 7:25). Christianity proclaims that Jesus’ death on the cross was sufficient to completely pay the sin debt owed by all men and this is what restores the broken relationship between God and man (Hebrews 9:11-14, Hebrews 10:10, Romans 6:23, Romans 5:8). In order to be saved, one must simply place his faith entirely in the finished work of Christ on the cross. If someone believes that Christ died in his own place and paid the price of his own sins, and rose again, then that person is saved. There is nothing that anyone can do to earn salvation. Nobody can be “good enough” to please God on his or her own, because all of us are sinners (Isaiah 64:6-7, Isaiah 53:6). Secondly, there is nothing more to be done, because Christ has done all the work! When He was on the cross, Jesus said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). Just as there is nothing one can do to earn salvation, once someone has placed his/her trust in the work of Christ on the cross, there is nothing anyone can do to lose his/her salvation either. Remember, the work was done and completed by Christ! Nothing about salvation is dependent upon the one who receives it! John 10:27-29 states “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave [them] me, is greater than all; and no [man] is able to pluck [them] out of my Father's hand.” Some may think, “This is great--once I am saved, I can do just as I please, and not lose my salvation!” But salvation is not about being free to do as one pleases. Salvation is becoming free from having to serve the old sin nature, and being free to pursue a right relationship with God. As long as believers live on this earth in their sinful bodies, there will be a constant struggle with giving in to sin. Living in sin hinders the relationship God seeks to have with mankind, and as long as one lives in sin as a believer, he will not enjoy the relationship God intended to have with him. However, Christians can have victory over the struggle with sin by studying and applying God’s Word (the Bible) in their lives, and being controlled by the Holy Spirit--that is, submitting to the Spirit’s influence and leading in everyday circumstances, and through the Spirit obeying God’s Word. So, while many religious systems require that a person do certain things or not do certain things, Christianity is about having a relationship with God. Christianity is about believing that Christ died on the cross as payment for your own sin, and rose again. Your sin debt is paid and you can have fellowship with God. You can have victory over your sin nature and walk in fellowship and obedience with God. That is true biblical Christianity. "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do " (Eph. 2:8,9). Ok, I believe that Christ died for me paid for my sins so I am saved, right? So now, can I go make my fortune in organized crime. I mean, my sins are covered so I may as well make it worth while. Or do I need to obey the commandments and try to be a good person. According to Christians, nothing I do will help so I may as well live it up.

What if the economy gets really bad and you can't find work or you get sick and can't work? Could you afford to make the loan payments on your husband's salary? What if he gets laid off? Do you have enough in savings to meet your expenses in an emergency? If so, then I would consider it.

I am pretty sure he has kids in college now so he knows exactly how much it costs.

I'm a Dave Ramsey fan so I agree - Get out of debt first and pay cash for college.

When LDS do missionary work, they speak about our beliefs, our doctrine, our scriptures. When anti's do missionary work they speak about our beliefs, our scriptures, our doctrine - only they get it all wrong. If they were really trying to be missionaries, they would be telling people what they believe, not what they don't believe. They would be uplifting and have a positive spirit, not negative and full of hate.

Thanks. I am anxious to read this. My great great grandfather's twin brother lived down there at the time and was not involved. He was attacked and beaten because some of the men who were involved found out he had given food to the wagon party. It wasn't something the church condoned or he would not have helped them. At least they were prosecuted and punished for what they did. I never heard about anyone who was at Haun's Mill being prosecuted.

When my niece was engaged, her fiance was investigating the church. His parents were horrified. They would tell him some of the bizarre beliefs they had "heard." He asked them to meet with him & the LDS missionaries to clear up some of their misconceptions. When he arrived, he discovered that they had brought a couple of members from their church who were experts. He said that all their experts did was talk about how wrong Mormons are. They never answered any of his questions about their faith. He said that the LDS missionaries answered every question asked. He asked to be baptized the next day.:)

Mine is Salt Lake for sure. I think it's beautiful inside and out. I received my endowments there and was sealed there. I live outside of Portland now and have to say that the Portland temple is also pretty amazing. I used to live in Boise and that temple was pretty blah.

I think it is human nature to justify your reasons for doing something you feel guilt about. It's just like the guy who cheats on his wife and then says she was a bad wife so it's all her fault.

I never sent any of mine to preschool. They have so many years to go to school and so few to be home with me. They got plenty of social interaction with kids at church. My kids go to a French immersion school now. They all started in 1st grade and are doing just as well as their peers who started as young as 3 years old.

I don't think this question is inappropriate. Back in the olden days, you could buy them at JCPenney, but you had to embroider the sacred part yourself at home. From LDS.org </H2>

We went with VOIP about 5 years ago and have never regretted it. We went with Packet 8. I think it was because they were a little cheaper than Vongage back then and they were more proactive about resolving the 911 issue. I'm not sure how they compare now. I believe all VOIP's have to provide some type of 911 service now. We pay 20.00 a month which include caller ID, call waiting, 3 way calling, call forwarding, call block (my favorite - I can block numbers I don't want calling me,) unlimited long distance in North America and so much more that I never use. I don't understand why anyone would pay for a traditional land line anymore. I think the big phone companies are in for some hurt if they don't lower their rates. Especially now that most VOIPs will use your same number so you don't have to figure out who to notify.

The church is pretty clear on what is modest dress and what is not. Of course modesty is more than just your choice in clothing, but there is no need to justify immodest dress because of an activity. For years, dancers have been able to perform without showing their stomachs, so why should we suddenly say that is appropriate? From the For the Strength of Youth pamphlet:

I believe the church handbook says IVF is ok as long as the egg and the sperm are from the couple. They discourage donor sperm and/or egg.

That's it. Does anyone remember when KJQ would do the Utah Word of the Day?

My mom has the worst Utah accent. I love to tease her about shopping at the "star," riding a "harse" and eating "carn on the cob."

Don't forget how they say "Aloha" here. Even Lake Oswego catches the tourists. It's pronounced "A-lo-uhh" not "A-lo-ha" and "Os-wee-go" not "Os-way-go."

I live in Vancouver and I always say, "Vancouver is to Portland as Kearns is to Salt Lake." LOL. I really don't like Vancouver. I don't even have my kids go to school over here. I truck them to Portland everyday.

That is a great article. I have been to a small town called Zarahem, Saudi Arabia. Tell me how he knew about that one. LOL. Some friends of my parents researched over on the Arabian Peninsula and wrote a book called Discovering Lehi. It's really amazing to read.