Tzesaro

Resurrected post! Look at this, we have the standard of God: "The Bible and the Book of Mormon teach that the marriage of one man to one woman is God’s standard, except at specific periods when He has declared otherwise." - Plural marriage and families in early Utah

There's nothing to be afraid of when it comes to speaking with your bishop. Whether you're worthy or not, it can only help to share your concern with him. Total repentance is part of a life worth living. And look forwards to what comes after, I promise you you will not regret speaking to him about it. But you might regret not doing so. Also, I think you have already started the repentance, confessing is a part of it, but you obviously have a true wish to serve a mission. You have faith, and a sense of what is right. If not, you wouldn't have adressed this concern. The lord is merciful. "Behold, he who has repented of his sins, the same is forgiven, and I, the Lord, remember them no more. By this ye may know if a man repenteth of his sins—behold, he will confess them and forsake them." - D&C 58:42-43 Remember Alma the younger when he went through a similar process. The Lord told him: "[...] Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God." -Mosiah 27:25-26 After this we read: "And now it came to pass that Alma began from this time forward to teach the people..." - Mosiah 27:32

I study architectural engineering.

I was in the same situation as your son. My doctor just asked me if I thought I could handle it physically when discussing the weight, and I of course said yes... So he "signed". My stake president helped me realise otherwise. I lost 20 kilo before going on a mission, had I not I would not have been sent. None of us (including you) completely know your son's situation, and while mistakes do happen, the best thing you could do is support him in fulfilling the promise of missionary work that he has already made. -EVERY- member is a missionary, no exception. Is that not something precious to work with? If his stake president, or whoever has processed his missionary papers, has felt that he can't go on a mission with his current weight, then why should you fret? Either it means that he has the willpower and ability to shake off that weight and then go on a mission, or it means that God's will for him is in a different location/situation? Don't you think that he can serve? I believe that he can. I don't think the Lord would punish him for a good desire? Neither would he want him, having a desire to serve, to be left behind in the great work. So to say that this has been wrong, and has happened at a wrong time, seems to me is like saying God doesn't know the best condition and time for him to serve. But He does! And He wants him to! And he is able to serve. You can hold him back, or you can help him go forwards in service. If he is mentally able, then there's no need to fear or be angry. If he is physically able, then that is great. If he needs physical preperation, then that is good, because it will help him grow the character that he will have in the future, to serve and bless -others-. Remember that negative thoughts are not from God, and that whatever comes our way when we are living as best we can, is a part of lifes journey. I know that I, looking back, am grateful for the advice and the growth I was blessed with when I realised I needed to loose weight to fully serve a full time mission, and not just be on a full time mission. If you feel he needs support to overcome that stumbling block he has been working with for 8 months, it is there to be had.

I think the addiction recovery program contains revelation not just for the addicted (whatever substance or thing it may be), but also for those related. Here's a bit about honesty, the first step: "Rarely do people caught in addictive behaviors admit to being addicted. To deny the seriousness of our condition and to avoid detection and the consequences of our choices, we tried to minimize or hide our behaviors. We did not realize that by deceiving others and ourselves, we slipped deeper into our addictions. As our powerlessness over addiction increased, many of us found fault with family, friends, Church leaders, and even God. We plunged into greater and greater isolation, separating ourselves from others, especially from God. When we, as addicts, resorted to lies and secrecy, hoping to excuse ourselves or blame others, we weakened spiritually. With each act of dishonesty, we bound ourselves with “flaxen cords” that soon became as strong as chains (see 2 Nephi 26:22). Then a time came when we were brought face to face with reality. We could no longer hide our addictions by telling one more lie or by saying, “It’s not that bad!” A loved one, a doctor, a judge, or an ecclesiastical leader told us the truth we could no longer deny—the addiction was destroying our lives. When we honestly looked at the past, we admitted that nothing we had tried on our own had worked. We acknowledged that the addiction had only gotten worse. We realized how much our addictions had damaged relationships and robbed us of any sense of worth. At this point, we took the first step toward freedom and recovery by finding courage to admit that we were not just dealing with a problem or a bad habit. We finally admitted the truth that our lives had become unmanageable and that we needed help to overcome our addictions. The amazing thing about this honest realization of defeat was that recovery finally began." - Step 1: Honesty I can't help much. But I hope you've read this program, if not I think it would be a good idea to do so to see what you can do to help him.

In answering that question, it's important to remember that there's a difference in these times to how it has been in other periods. So while it's a restoration of all things, there are those things revealed that were not revealed in other dispensations (To individuals, maybe, but not to the church or the world as a whole). "Whereas previous prophets were sometimes left to surmise—as Moroni supposed the Jews also had a record of the Creation from Adam on down (see Ether 1:3)—ours, instead, is a time of fulness, including “things which never have been revealed from the foundation of the world” (D&C 128:18)." - Neal A. Maxwell ("God Will Yet Reveal") Not that that is the case with the specific examples you gave, but it's a nice thought :)

About that, there's the interesting difference between Matt 5:48 and 3 Nephi 12:48 after Christ had resurrected. Matt 5:48 : "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." 3 Nephi 12:48 : "Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect."

The guide to the scriptures says under perfect: "Complete, whole, and fully developed; totally righteous. Perfect can also mean without sin or evil. Only Christ was totally perfect. True followers of Christ may become perfect through his grace and atonement." There's mentioned two definitions of perfect. By the first definition of being complete, whole, and fully developed, I don't think Adam and Eve were perfect before the fall. Wasn't the purpose of the fall and the atonement for us to be able to become fully developed, so to say? By the second definition, they were... because they had not yet fallen, or sinned. Because of Christ, both definitions can become true for each of us. But they are not now. Also, I like this statement by Elder Bruce R. McConkie: "Nobody becomes perfect in this life. Becoming perfect in Christ is a process. We begin to keep commandments today, and we keep more of them tomorrow. We can become perfect in minor things. [...]"

I don't disagree with most that has been said. Personally I don't really mind the use of a cross, I don't do it myself because it doesn't help me feel the Spirit... So I can feel that I shouldn't use it in that way. But that's the effect it has on me alone, having seen the cross misused daily for years merely to uphold tradition. But there is no doubt at all, at the significance the cross holds also in the scriptures. Here's a thought provoking talk on the subject: The Meaning of the Cross for Latter-day Saints - Ensign July 2011 - ensign

President Kimball said: "Certainly every male member of the Church should fill a mission, like he should pay his tithing, like he should attend his meetings, like he should keep his life clean and free from the ugliness of the world and plan a celestial marriage in the temple of the Lord. While there is no compulsion for him to do any of these things, he should do them for his own good." President Kimball Speaks Out on Being a Missionary - New Era May 1981 - new-era And... I'd add, surely we can't force people into living celestial lives. I need to recognize myself what I must do, and I need to act in faith according to my conscience and the testimony of the Spirit within me. For men in the able age, who have made covenants and received the Melchizedek priesthood, more than being the question: "Should I go on a mission?" it is a question of how and when. That's really between God and the person, as mentioned :). I agree completely with what has been said about not forcing or pushing others into serving a mission, much like I don't agree with pushing or forcing anyone into paying tithing, or keeping the word of wisdom. But I'll encourage as appropriate, and explain in a Spirit of kindness the doctrines of the kingdom, knowing that while a person shouldn't be forced into doing any of these, he is still expected to. President Thomas S. Monson: "We affirm that missionary work is a priesthood duty—and we encourage all young men who are worthy and who are physically able and mentally capable to respond to the call to serve." https://www.lds.org/youth/video/welcome-to-conference?lang=eng

My thoughts... If we had the humility God has, we would be quick to apologize and make peace. I don't think this can be cut down to "I'm right, you're wrong", because there are so many different things that we could do wrong. Doing wrong is not the same as being wrong. If I know what I'm saying is true, but I say it in a bad spirit, then I should apologize. (See D&C 50:12-23). But the Savior knows both how, what, and at what time things need to be said (And he knows any other factor that may play a role, that I am not aware of...). And He speaks truth. Considering that, I'd say that any apologizing of His wouldn't be based on being wrong, but for example rather on showing concern. This is a cute little talk: Color Me Sorry - New Era Jan.–Feb. 1982 - new-era I was thinking of a scripture, but I can't find it... "What I the Lord have spoken", or something along those lines? If it rings any bells for anyone I'd be interested.

Welcome :) I'm sure they don't bite at the church near you, if you ever go :). Although... I suppose there are always some eccentric people out there.

I've been on here before... but It's a while ago. So I'll introduce myself and share my testimony anyway! Well... I'm from Denmark. I just started studying architectural engineering, so far so good. I'm a Latter-day Saint, and I love it. I signed up here hoping that I'd be able to read and share a lot of good principles. To learn more. There seems to be people from a lot of different faiths and communities on here, that's amazing. I personally know that God is our Heavenly Father, he lives. He sent Jesus Christ, that we can come to him. He will guide us along the way, especially through the Holy Ghost, as long as we turn to Him and his Son. Some of my favourite scriptures are in Mosiah 27:25-26 where the Lord is speaking, this has helped me recognize more how I depend on Christ. He says: "[...] Marvel not that all mankind, yea, men and women, all nations, kindreds, tongues and people, must be born again; yea, born of God, changed from their carnal and fallen state, to a state of righteousness, being redeemed of God, becoming his sons and daughters; And thus they become new creatures; and unless they do this, they can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God."