priesthoodpower

my post was meant to add and not subtract from your post. Self talk in the conscious state of mind does not turn into a belief, self talk matters when it becomes a habitual belief in the subconscious mind. Hopefully the videos explain it better.

All these positive affirmations and encouraging words are great but will be forgotten the second the OP walks away from his computer. The secret is to change his self beliefs that reside in his subconscious. You see our subconscious is the database that holds millions of programs and files that make up our physical and mental being. Most of the programs were written into our subconc. while we were growing up between the ages of 0-7yr old. Dr Bruce Lipton explains it pretty impressively in his book: biology of belief, backed by his scientific research as a cellular biologist he is quoted as saying that the movie "the matrix" was a documentary and not just a sci-fi movie. His new book, the honeymoon effect, goes more into the human subconscious behaviors https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQa0IOjEt3k Dr Bruces research on human cells and energy is the foundation for Rob Williams therapeutic technique called "psych-k", rewriting those limiting beliefs files in our subconscious. part1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRa8K4f4PHc part2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeMgy_wpils My wife and I took a two day "psych-k" workshop https://www.psych-k.com/ from a certified psych-K teacher, Rita Soman she is based out of Oregon. In those two days we learned how to rewrite our own self beliefs and now me and my wife are also certified to perform the method on family and friends but most importanly, each other. My wife is a family & marriage therapist and she said she learned more in those two days about how to help others then she did in her two years of MBA schooling. I encourage everyone to watch the three youtube links I posted above.

AGmom hang in there, im in a similar situation, my wife left the church completely about 6 years ago. The first few years were hard but im slowly realizing that I need to change my perspective on the situation. The problem is that I see her as someone who rejected the church and because the church means a lot to me she therefore rejects me. I guess I got too much pride. I thought about what would happen if we got divorced, what if I fell in love with another woman who was not religious? I would not have any type of religious expectations of her and I would just simply love her for who she is. That is the perspective that I am trying to gain with my wife, its hard but its what Christ would do. One thing that does not help is attending church every sunday and the members wondering where my wife is. The looks on peoples faces and some of the conversations I have with ward friends and leaders is that they care so much for her welfare that we must be doing something wrong. That is when church feels like its a toxic environment when people cannot use their Christ eyes and Christ mouths.

1. In buddism why do some of their statues have them posing with signs that are similar to some of the hands signs we use in LDS temples? https://blog.gaijinpot.com/great-buddha-gifu/ - Do the buddist followers use these signs in any part of their worship? Just reconfirms to me that there is truth every where. - on a side note, I think Anatess makes a valid point, although you may be the RS leader I think you might want to also run this enrichment meeting idea across bishop for his thoughts. I can see a conflict in the sense that any time spent within the church walls should be for building our own faith and religion not learning about other religions.

In the LDS church testimony and faith are the same thing, why? because half the membership (mostly everyone under the age of 20) dont know what the spirit feels like and are baring their testimony on faith and belief. You were fortunate enough (as you mentioned in other posts) to have a distinct revelation from the spirit of the divinity of JC, so you can categorize your "testimony" as 100% fact but not everyone is like you.

+1 - Another example is facial hair, Professional athletes started a trend to wear full beards about 5 years ago and then you started seeing alot of beards at church. The youth boys also have these funky haircuts, when I was a youth you couldnt pass sacrament if your hair was out of the ordinary. I also see a lot more tattos on BYU football players. - In the music industry you have mormon artists crossing over into hiphop, ie; James the Mormon (rapper) https://www.youtube.com/user/Jamesbrandtcurran - Lindsey Sterling a well known Mormon violinist collaborating with pentatonix of whom two of those members are gay, back in the 80s/90s the general membership would cringe over things like this. Like Zil says, its nice to see the culture of church membership being accepting of others instead of labeling everyone who is not on the straight and narrow a sinner.

I agree with everyones post. I got a big one done around my shoulder when I was 18 but you cant see it if I wear a t-shirt. I find it rather interesting that as society grows and gets accustomed to trends our church slowly follows. I remember growing up in the 80's and tattoos were bad because it was usually something prisoners and gangs would have, now days its common because its looked at as art rather then gang affiliation.

So are you saying that all the members that get up in church and say "I testify that Jesus is the Christ and JS was a true prophet of God" literally saw JC and JS? They obviously did not so it is based on their belief and faith that they testify and according to dictionary.com belief and faith are similar. Faith: 1.confidence or trust in a person or thing: faith in another's ability. 2.belief that is not based on proof: He had faith that the hypothesis would be substantiated by fact. 3.belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion: the firm faith of the Pilgrims. 4.belief in anything, as a code of ethics, standards of merit, etc.: to be of the same faith with someone concerning honesty.

I have recently learned to not be so pessimistic about the eternities or the salvation of others because NO ONE knows the intricate details.

They should have called it "YSA Flirting Bingo" so that us "family ward" guys dont get the idea that our married/widowed women in Relief Society were creating such games.

I guess you have a point in that "faith without works is dead". However if you put a gun to either of my family members head they would die testifiying that Jesus is the Christ, JS restored the Gospel. They still have a testimony and qualify under Luke 17:06 "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed" but the point I was making wasnt about their level of faith or inactivity but simply that they did not leave the church. Yup, They have fallen away. Now my wife on the other hand has stated that she no longer believes in the LDS Prophets or the Church and decided to "leave" the church 6 yrs ago. She did not officially make an effort to remove her name from the church records which leads me to believe that the same speck of doubt that caused her disbelief could make her question if leaving the church was the right thing to do in the first place. Maybe I should say it like this...Satan found a way to help her leave, The Lord can find a way to help her return.

Im sorry Rob but that is your own opinion and like many have mentioned earlier...its more complicated than that. There is also a loophole in your observations. I have two younger brothers and a Father who love the church with all the fibers in their beings, they did not leave the church, they proudly call themselves mormons but they are not active in church. My Father, who is single, is a womanizer. My brother is a meth addict the other one is a violent person that just completed a 5 yr prison term. All 3 of them have "NO DOUBT" that the LDS church is the one and only true church on earth, their only problem is that they have alternative lifestyles. Their disobedience has not caused a lack of faith or created doubt or caused them to leave the church, they are simply exercising their free agency.

Im so glad I read this post. Now I know that if I ever fall away from the church its because I fell away!

I really appreciate those members that recognize that they are getting more out of their service then the ones they are serving even if it is hard and burdensome. I think it helps to be in a ward that you love because service turns into friendship and being around friends is fun.

1. I would think its much nicer to tell students to continue their distracting cell phone behaviors outside of the classroom. Im not their parent so I dont want to take their phones away or tell them to turn it off, although these seem to be the normal rules in many youth classes. 2. The adult classes dont have a problem with this because we are respectful enough to know that if we have to conduct business or personal matters on our phones we would step out of the class to do it. Im not sure why you brought this up, youth and adults are on very different maturity levels. 3. You do understand that the teacher in the adult SS class is there because the bishop, or stake pres, or prophet, or Jesus cannot be there personally to teach it right! Its an official calling and they are set apart through a priesthood blessing to teach. If you dont like a teachers style and what he/she does to make the environment conducive to the spirit then I can only refer you to Matthew 25:45 ".. Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me " or do what iggy suggested in the above post, Go home, no one is forcing any of us to sit in a chapel where everyone is volunteering and contributing to the "community" and Yes, I have taken iggys advice in the past and have stayed home from church on days when I felt like I didnt want to go, in fact the most recent and only time this year was in February when I was stressed out and decided to go hiking by myself instead of attend church.

The garments should be worn 24hrs a day as much as possible, science calls it the placebo effect but we know it as GODs way to spiritually AND physically protect us.

I teach youth sunday school and my solution for the phones is this. "Ok class Its amazing how beneficial technology and cell phones are in our lives, if you are playing a game please concentrate harder to beat that level, If you are watching a sports game I hope your team wins etc..I put a couple of chairs out in the hall way so feel free to go their and continue your cell phone usage. While you are in this class you can only use your phone for the lesson". This works pretty well.

Thanks MG I looked up and listened to some of Lee's lectures which is leading me to other stuff.

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Thanks for sharing I hope you continue to have success and happiness in any area your young life leads you. Im not into clubbing but me and my brother used to DJ in High school and College (back in the late 90's) and It was a great way for me to be in the scene without having to be in the scene if you know what i mean. Seeing how the music industry has grown because of the internet and how the DJ profession it self has taken off makes for a good dream of what things could have been if I stuck with it. I recently read an article of a Mormon DJ in vegas doing pretty well for himself and still living by the LDS standards. I think the world needs to know that Mormons are normal just like anyone else and we can still live and thrive in any environment without sacrificing our values. http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/07/26/the-straight-edge-mormon-dj-taking-over-the-world.html

from person0's post: (12 Myths About Hypnosis) "Hypnosis is used to strengthen positive messages and weaken or neutralize negative messages that are already in your subconscious mind. This makes it possible to effect a permanent change in you when you are ready to make the change. In fact, part of the first session at Ennar Hypnosis is used to determine if the client honestly WANTS the requested change. This determination is made before the client is ever put into hypnosis. For example, suppose a client tells me,“My wife wants me to stop smoking. Can you help?” The client's choice of words probably means that he is not yet personally committed to stop smoking. In this case, hypnosis will not help this client to stop smoking. In other words, hypnosis can be used to create change, but ...only when the client is genuinely ready for the change." --------------------------- I think hypnosis can be beneficial if done for a good reason. After all arent we all being hypnotized every minute of the day in some shape or form? aka The power of suggestion coming from the advertising of foods, fashion and entertainment, and we all know that there are bad sides to foods/fashion and entertainment. Similar to foods/fashion/entertainment, if there is no official word from our apostles then I feel as individuals we can make our own educated and inspired decisions about hypnotism. I personally have never come across a need for hypnotism and im not attracted to the idea of participating in it for entertainment but if me or a family member had a health issue and nothing worked then I would definitely try hypnotism.

When I was on a mission the missionaries who had girlfriends seemed to have an extra worry on their minds. I probably would not advise telling him your feelings at this point in time because it could become a distraction. If you do tell him then the keyword is "expectation". Let him know that you have a crush on him but you guys are not a couple and his mission is more important and you will date around and probably marry someone else while he is gone. ..nah, jk about the marriage part. lol

When my "stay at home wife" left the church 5 yrs ago and started making new non-member friends...she noticed how all of them other mothers couldnt do half of the homemaking and baking that she could do. They all paid for catering and any other services they needed for parties and get togethers.

@OP - I have 3 daughters and no sons. My brother has 2 daughters no sons. My sister had 4 daughters and 3 sons. Over the years I have observed many families with daughters outnumbering sons. Not sure if its a regional thing or cultural thing but females tend to be birthed more then males.

I have felt these exact same emotions and the first place that I found real true comfort was being around other people who went through the same thing I was going through because they understood. The second and greatest place I found comfort was when I learned how to use the atonement to lean on Jesus. He is the ultimate person that has gone through what we have gone through, no one went lower then Jesus and that is why he understands and can ease every ones burdens. I really dont know, this has been my own personal experience and im just putting it out there in case anyone can relate. I think when the feelings were fresh and I sat in church all by myself with my kids I kept saying to myself "she abandoned me!". Every time the sacrament hymns played I just wanted to cry and I felt so much sorrow, and then for a member to come and say "sorry" just reemphasized the sorrow. There is one member (a woman in her 60's) who was inactive for 20yrs at one point and when she found out my wife left the church she gave me the biggest smile and said everything is going to be ok, every time I see her she has the biggest smile with hope in her countenance.