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A Million Ways to Die in the West. Rated R. Definitely not recommend for family viewing. Extreme language, and over-the-top sexual content.

This sounds wonderful for a chilly winter's evening. Thanks for the recipe and instructions. I'm going to get the ingredients and try it!

Well said.

When I'm with someone who says strange things, my response is usually "Wow, really?" or "Oh wow!". Usually they just keep talking, and I interject a small comment like I've said every once in awhile to make them think I'm really involved with what they're telling me. Might not be the best way to handle such situations, but it doesn't hurt the person's feelings, and it makes them feel like you value them. Works for me anyway...

LOL

As someone mentioned already, Heavenly Father knows your heart. He also knows that you're worried about these troublesome thoughts you're having. The fact that you're worried about these thoughts tells Him that you don't really mean the bad things you're thinking. I second the idea that you need to get professional help as soon as possible. The way you're describing these thoughts, your inability to control them, when they occur, etcetera, sounds like obsessiveness to me. I know because I suffer from obsessive thoughts too. A professional can help ease this tremendously. Heavenly Father loves you, and would never punish you or withhold blessings because of something you can't help.

I wouldn't do it. Too much potential for it to crop up later somewhere and cause a problem. I'd avoid the "appearance of evil". Having said that, I would be hard-pressed not to make the same request of my favorite actor Alan Rickman.

Great! I'll recommend it for the reading list. Thanks!

This sounds very interesting. Do you think it would be a good choice for an LDS ladies' book club?

I'm sorry that you had such a bad experience in your ward, but I must disagree with your advice to the OP. In a previous post, you advised her not to confess to her Church leaders, and now you're telling her to find out "lies and secrets" about other members so that she can use it against them....pardon me....so that she can use it "to her advantage". You're putting a very negative vibe on her experiences as she tries to return to activity. I don't believe I've ever seen such cynicism as you are displaying. Though it might be difficult for you, given what you experienced, have a little faith that things will go well for her, instead of coming up with negative scenarios and negative ways to deal with things. The solutions and advice you are coming up with are very much against what the Savior would have someone do. Rather than assuming something negative will occur, why not offer her encouragement and support? I understand that you had a bad experience yourself, but please don't let that cause you to expect that everyone's experience will be negative, and certainly don't let it cause you to give advice that goes completely against what the Savior teaches. Give her positive feedback rather than frightening her with negative speculation. She's already nervous about returning. It's wrong to discourage her with such negativity as your prior posts have contained. Again, I'm sad for your bad experience and the apparent cynicism it has caused in you. I hope you know your Heavenly Father and Jesus love you, and that you can feel Their love in your life.

Black Friday with Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi. A movie wherein Lugosi played a gangster rather than Dracula or any other of his normal typecast rolls in monster movies. It was interesting to see him in a completely different persona.

I think it's terrible advice to tell someone to look for things to use against other people. This person is trying to come back into activity and be closer to her Heavenly Father and Christ. I really don't think that advising her to do something against people is a very good thing to do. You're encouraging her to start off with bad intent, and that's just not right.

We sang this not too long ago in Sacrament meeting. It's one of my favorites.

I think I've mentioned this before in this thread, but I have tattoos too. I have one in the middle of my right forearm, two just above my ankle on my outside right leg, one on top of my left foot, one on top of my right foot, and one on my left inner wrist. The right forearm one is very visible, as are the ones on my right leg when I wear a skirt above ankle-length, and the ones on my feet are visible whenever I wear dress shoes, which is every Sunday. Nobody has said a word about it. My Bishop has told me before that I may end up being the Ward Chorister again, which means standing in front of the whole congregation waving my tattooed arm around for all to see. I think it'll be just fine if people see your tattoos, and I doubt if anyone will think badly of you. Best wishes for a joyful return!

I wonder how much the service project I'm doing with our missionaries tomorrow will tire me out, and if I'll get sick from trying to do too much. Edited to add: All went well, the Elders came, too, and helped with the heavy duty stuff. I wonder if kids will try to come trick-or-treating at our house tonight even though we will be under "blackout" conditions.

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Welcome to the forums

Your last paragraph is very insightful. I'd never thought of it that way before. I just went along with what I was told all these years... That there had to be some sort if physical thing wrong with tea and coffee the reason we don't drink them. However, your last paragraph is something to ponder, for sure.

It's my understanding that "tea" refers drinks made from the tea plant, as someone pointed out. I was told that the reason we don't drink it is because of the caffeine and tanin in it. I was told by my Bishop that herbal tea is fine to drink, so I don't feel bad about it. Actually I've never felt guilty about drinking herbal tea.

Watching Abbot and Costello Meet Frankenstein, which also happens to have Bela Lugosi as Dracula, and Lon Chaney as the Wolfman. It's presented by this really cool show called Svengoolie, which comes on at 10 on Saturday nights here in Northern California. Hilarious show, great old black and white horror flicks. More corny than scary. http://svengoolie.com if anyone is interested in these old black and whites. I adore them, so I'm a fan.

Dark Shadows with Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham-Carter. And Alice Cooper, of course.

I was recently in your exact position. I was inactive for years, I got several tattoos, I drank alcohol every night, and, without going into great detail, I too had issues with the law of chastity. When the longing to return to Church came upon me, the first thing I did was make an appointment with my Bishop to talk things over, and discuss what I could do to get myself back on track. There was no punishment or disciplinary action involved at all. My Bishop radiated love and concern, and joy that I wanted to come back. I encourage you not to be afraid or dread talking with your leader(s) about your concerns. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. I would confess if I were you, just for your own peace of mind. After doing so, you can be confident in your worthiness to partake of ALL the blessings that Heavenly Father has in store for you. I wondered if I were worthy to take the Sacrament, for example. My Bishop was able to assure me that I was, so I didn't have to be uncomfortable wondering if I ought to take it or not. It gave me great peace within to speak with my leader. I encourage you to go ahead and talk with your leader. I believe you'll have a great burden lifted from your heart as our Father in Heaven welcomes you with open arms and a joyful countenance.

This. Nicely said.

I wonder when I'm going to get a calling, and what it might be.

You betcha!