yoyoteacher

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  1. Like
    yoyoteacher reacted to zil in Quick Temple Question   
    Is everyone forgetting that women already officiate in the endowment?  If they were gonna replace women officiators with men, it seems that would be the first one to go, and could have gone at any time.  No pot to stir here.
  2. Like
    yoyoteacher got a reaction from Jane_Doe in Quick Temple Question   
    With a large chunk of temples being tiny ones like Bismarck, that don't even have a chapel, I'm curious as to where they would move things. Not saying it wouldn't happen but when you are already maximizing space, it seems like a lot of effort to go to. Honestly, I think women performing the initiatory is my biggest 'duh'  moment to the ordain women movement. We are promised to become priestesses unto our husbands if we are faithful....the initiatory is evidence of that in my opinion. 
  3. Like
    yoyoteacher reacted to estradling75 in How do you get over the past sins of a SO   
    You get over it buy realizing that your feelings are based on selfishness and pride.  Instead of accepting her as she is you basically think you deserve better.  The Lord will forgive whom the Lord will forgive but for us it is required to forgive all... even more so a potential future spouse... So that is what you need to do...  The fact of the matter is while she sinned and needs to work that through with the Lord she has done nothing to you but be honest.
    That being said, Repentance of selfishness and pride and learning to accept her as she is may not be something you are quite ready to do yet.
    So you need to do some critical self evaluation and prayer...  Can you make the choice to recognize that what you are feeling is a "natural man" and that it is your responsibly to choose and act to reduce and remove that influence?  Or do you think you are somehow "justified" in your feelings? 
    If you can choose to accept her for where she is then move forward.  If you are not ready for that... well that is understandable... so accept your weakness and work on it.  But in that case cut off the relationship with the young lady, because you are doing neither her nor you any favors by pursuing a relationship that you are not ready to handle, and will only end up making both you and her miserable. 
     
  4. Like
    yoyoteacher got a reaction from classylady in FHE for newlyweds   
    We are about 2-3 hours from a few temples, depending which way you go. We live in the St. Louis temple district, but as it was closed for cleaning we decided to go to Kansas City. It was very special, and a very happy occasion. 

  5. Like
    yoyoteacher got a reaction from NeedleinA in FHE for newlyweds   
    We are about 2-3 hours from a few temples, depending which way you go. We live in the St. Louis temple district, but as it was closed for cleaning we decided to go to Kansas City. It was very special, and a very happy occasion. 

  6. Like
    yoyoteacher got a reaction from LeSellers in FHE for newlyweds   
    I am hoping to find some ideas for FHE that can be used with my husband. We are both converts and have limited experiences with FHE ourselves, but it is a habit I want to get into with him so we keep going once we begin to have children. Monday went okay, we were sealed on Saturday so we read the family proclamation together and discussed the messages there,  but I think having some ideas to help us as we start would be so good. 
    Any advice or resources? 
  7. Like
    yoyoteacher reacted to pam in Cool idea for 2016   
    Vort here is your reminder.  :)   Don't forget to get your jars for everyone that wants to do this during the next year.  
  8. Like
    yoyoteacher got a reaction from Sunday21 in Temple Schedules   
    Well, we are and aren't. He got a really good deal on wedding bands and we are at the point of talking and planning but waiting on finances for the engagement ring. If that makes sense.
    I probably sound crazy!
  9. Like
    yoyoteacher got a reaction from Jane_Doe in Temple Schedules   
    Well, we are and aren't. He got a really good deal on wedding bands and we are at the point of talking and planning but waiting on finances for the engagement ring. If that makes sense.
    I probably sound crazy!
  10. Like
    yoyoteacher got a reaction from Blackmarch in Mental Health and actually wonder if I am going to make it to the temple for my endowment cermoney or am I doomed to the outerdarkness?   
    LadyHanley93, first of all: welcome. I am also a convert and am in the YSA age group and setting, so I can relate to a few things there. I have a few thoughts that came to mind as I read.
     
    First, please understand and recognize that the church is true, even though the actions of others may have caused you offence. The people who attend church may not do everything perfectly, but we are all on the same path back to our Heavenly Father. I say this because I was a bit younger than you when I took things said to me personally and went inactive. I would hate to see that happen to someone else.
     
    Second, please understand that YSAs can be the best and worst people at times. I love my YSA branch and how close we feel, and at the same time I get frustrated so often because it seems that there is a lot of "high school" drama that has a tendency to occur. I'd like to think it's because as a group, younger YSAs cling to that mentality until they get some personal life experience and a chance to grow a little better into adulthood.
     
    Third, your making it to the temple is 100% determined by your desire and your effort to make it to the temple. I was inactive for seven years and had very similar thoughts on going as you did when my branch president brought the subject up to me back in December. I thought it was crazy to even think about, that I was in no way ready. But as soon as that idea was planted, I started working toward it. You are still young, don't feel as though you have to rush to the temple; it is a very large commitment to do so. It's not much beyond the commitment you've made at baptism, but it's enough that it should not be rushed or taken lightly.
     
    Fourth, you've mentioned talking to your bishopric about education on the subject, I'm assuming you mean your ovarian cancer? Or your mental health? My only other suggestion would be to talk to either your visiting teachers or your relief society president. They also have some stewardship over you and can be helpful in the healing process for you.
     
    If you are temple worthy, I would even suggest going to do baptisms all that you can. I always loved being in the temple, being able to pray for and receive answers there. And by putting your focus on temple service, it can help to prepare you for future covenants.
     
    Hang in there. Remember that Christ is a great comforter. He suffered every pain to help us through the Atonement, but He knows your struggles. Heavenly Father knows your struggles too. Heavenly Father gives each of us weaknesses, because we're here for the challenge of a lifetime. Lean on Him, talk to Him, and allow Him to make you a stronger Saint.
  11. Like
    yoyoteacher got a reaction from TalkativeIntrovert12345 in Mental Health and actually wonder if I am going to make it to the temple for my endowment cermoney or am I doomed to the outerdarkness?   
    LadyHanley93, first of all: welcome. I am also a convert and am in the YSA age group and setting, so I can relate to a few things there. I have a few thoughts that came to mind as I read.
     
    First, please understand and recognize that the church is true, even though the actions of others may have caused you offence. The people who attend church may not do everything perfectly, but we are all on the same path back to our Heavenly Father. I say this because I was a bit younger than you when I took things said to me personally and went inactive. I would hate to see that happen to someone else.
     
    Second, please understand that YSAs can be the best and worst people at times. I love my YSA branch and how close we feel, and at the same time I get frustrated so often because it seems that there is a lot of "high school" drama that has a tendency to occur. I'd like to think it's because as a group, younger YSAs cling to that mentality until they get some personal life experience and a chance to grow a little better into adulthood.
     
    Third, your making it to the temple is 100% determined by your desire and your effort to make it to the temple. I was inactive for seven years and had very similar thoughts on going as you did when my branch president brought the subject up to me back in December. I thought it was crazy to even think about, that I was in no way ready. But as soon as that idea was planted, I started working toward it. You are still young, don't feel as though you have to rush to the temple; it is a very large commitment to do so. It's not much beyond the commitment you've made at baptism, but it's enough that it should not be rushed or taken lightly.
     
    Fourth, you've mentioned talking to your bishopric about education on the subject, I'm assuming you mean your ovarian cancer? Or your mental health? My only other suggestion would be to talk to either your visiting teachers or your relief society president. They also have some stewardship over you and can be helpful in the healing process for you.
     
    If you are temple worthy, I would even suggest going to do baptisms all that you can. I always loved being in the temple, being able to pray for and receive answers there. And by putting your focus on temple service, it can help to prepare you for future covenants.
     
    Hang in there. Remember that Christ is a great comforter. He suffered every pain to help us through the Atonement, but He knows your struggles. Heavenly Father knows your struggles too. Heavenly Father gives each of us weaknesses, because we're here for the challenge of a lifetime. Lean on Him, talk to Him, and allow Him to make you a stronger Saint.
  12. Like
    yoyoteacher got a reaction from Blackmarch in Relative Finder   
    I set one up for my branch. Of course, I'm in a YSA branch, so my note on the facebook group post included a joke about not wanting to marry your second cousin. My best friend at this point in the branch is my 7th cousin (closest relation I've found so far), which was pretty neat!
  13. Like
    yoyoteacher got a reaction from Blackmarch in Relative Finder   
    For my fellow genealogy nerds, family search just put out a companion site called Relative Finder. If you have your family tree uploaded on family search, you can compare your tree with names of note (presidents, European royalty, prophets, apostles, etc) and it will spit out your relation to these people.
     
    I found out that I'm cousins of some sort with all the prophets except for John Taylor....and that I'm also a cousin of Lilburn Boggs (as is Joseph Smith).
     
    There's even a way to create a group and see if you have common ancestors with friends. Just thought I'd share with those who would be interested! I find it pretty cool that I have some distant ties to other LDS members, as a convert.
     
    The website is relativefinder.org !
  14. Like
    yoyoteacher got a reaction from Jane_Doe in Relative Finder   
    For my fellow genealogy nerds, family search just put out a companion site called Relative Finder. If you have your family tree uploaded on family search, you can compare your tree with names of note (presidents, European royalty, prophets, apostles, etc) and it will spit out your relation to these people.
     
    I found out that I'm cousins of some sort with all the prophets except for John Taylor....and that I'm also a cousin of Lilburn Boggs (as is Joseph Smith).
     
    There's even a way to create a group and see if you have common ancestors with friends. Just thought I'd share with those who would be interested! I find it pretty cool that I have some distant ties to other LDS members, as a convert.
     
    The website is relativefinder.org !
  15. Like
    yoyoteacher got a reaction from LadyHanley93 in Mental Health and actually wonder if I am going to make it to the temple for my endowment cermoney or am I doomed to the outerdarkness?   
    LadyHanley93, first of all: welcome. I am also a convert and am in the YSA age group and setting, so I can relate to a few things there. I have a few thoughts that came to mind as I read.
     
    First, please understand and recognize that the church is true, even though the actions of others may have caused you offence. The people who attend church may not do everything perfectly, but we are all on the same path back to our Heavenly Father. I say this because I was a bit younger than you when I took things said to me personally and went inactive. I would hate to see that happen to someone else.
     
    Second, please understand that YSAs can be the best and worst people at times. I love my YSA branch and how close we feel, and at the same time I get frustrated so often because it seems that there is a lot of "high school" drama that has a tendency to occur. I'd like to think it's because as a group, younger YSAs cling to that mentality until they get some personal life experience and a chance to grow a little better into adulthood.
     
    Third, your making it to the temple is 100% determined by your desire and your effort to make it to the temple. I was inactive for seven years and had very similar thoughts on going as you did when my branch president brought the subject up to me back in December. I thought it was crazy to even think about, that I was in no way ready. But as soon as that idea was planted, I started working toward it. You are still young, don't feel as though you have to rush to the temple; it is a very large commitment to do so. It's not much beyond the commitment you've made at baptism, but it's enough that it should not be rushed or taken lightly.
     
    Fourth, you've mentioned talking to your bishopric about education on the subject, I'm assuming you mean your ovarian cancer? Or your mental health? My only other suggestion would be to talk to either your visiting teachers or your relief society president. They also have some stewardship over you and can be helpful in the healing process for you.
     
    If you are temple worthy, I would even suggest going to do baptisms all that you can. I always loved being in the temple, being able to pray for and receive answers there. And by putting your focus on temple service, it can help to prepare you for future covenants.
     
    Hang in there. Remember that Christ is a great comforter. He suffered every pain to help us through the Atonement, but He knows your struggles. Heavenly Father knows your struggles too. Heavenly Father gives each of us weaknesses, because we're here for the challenge of a lifetime. Lean on Him, talk to Him, and allow Him to make you a stronger Saint.
  16. Like
    yoyoteacher got a reaction from Backroads in Mental Health and actually wonder if I am going to make it to the temple for my endowment cermoney or am I doomed to the outerdarkness?   
    LadyHanley93, first of all: welcome. I am also a convert and am in the YSA age group and setting, so I can relate to a few things there. I have a few thoughts that came to mind as I read.
     
    First, please understand and recognize that the church is true, even though the actions of others may have caused you offence. The people who attend church may not do everything perfectly, but we are all on the same path back to our Heavenly Father. I say this because I was a bit younger than you when I took things said to me personally and went inactive. I would hate to see that happen to someone else.
     
    Second, please understand that YSAs can be the best and worst people at times. I love my YSA branch and how close we feel, and at the same time I get frustrated so often because it seems that there is a lot of "high school" drama that has a tendency to occur. I'd like to think it's because as a group, younger YSAs cling to that mentality until they get some personal life experience and a chance to grow a little better into adulthood.
     
    Third, your making it to the temple is 100% determined by your desire and your effort to make it to the temple. I was inactive for seven years and had very similar thoughts on going as you did when my branch president brought the subject up to me back in December. I thought it was crazy to even think about, that I was in no way ready. But as soon as that idea was planted, I started working toward it. You are still young, don't feel as though you have to rush to the temple; it is a very large commitment to do so. It's not much beyond the commitment you've made at baptism, but it's enough that it should not be rushed or taken lightly.
     
    Fourth, you've mentioned talking to your bishopric about education on the subject, I'm assuming you mean your ovarian cancer? Or your mental health? My only other suggestion would be to talk to either your visiting teachers or your relief society president. They also have some stewardship over you and can be helpful in the healing process for you.
     
    If you are temple worthy, I would even suggest going to do baptisms all that you can. I always loved being in the temple, being able to pray for and receive answers there. And by putting your focus on temple service, it can help to prepare you for future covenants.
     
    Hang in there. Remember that Christ is a great comforter. He suffered every pain to help us through the Atonement, but He knows your struggles. Heavenly Father knows your struggles too. Heavenly Father gives each of us weaknesses, because we're here for the challenge of a lifetime. Lean on Him, talk to Him, and allow Him to make you a stronger Saint.
  17. Like
    yoyoteacher got a reaction from Jane_Doe in Mental Health and actually wonder if I am going to make it to the temple for my endowment cermoney or am I doomed to the outerdarkness?   
    LadyHanley93, first of all: welcome. I am also a convert and am in the YSA age group and setting, so I can relate to a few things there. I have a few thoughts that came to mind as I read.
     
    First, please understand and recognize that the church is true, even though the actions of others may have caused you offence. The people who attend church may not do everything perfectly, but we are all on the same path back to our Heavenly Father. I say this because I was a bit younger than you when I took things said to me personally and went inactive. I would hate to see that happen to someone else.
     
    Second, please understand that YSAs can be the best and worst people at times. I love my YSA branch and how close we feel, and at the same time I get frustrated so often because it seems that there is a lot of "high school" drama that has a tendency to occur. I'd like to think it's because as a group, younger YSAs cling to that mentality until they get some personal life experience and a chance to grow a little better into adulthood.
     
    Third, your making it to the temple is 100% determined by your desire and your effort to make it to the temple. I was inactive for seven years and had very similar thoughts on going as you did when my branch president brought the subject up to me back in December. I thought it was crazy to even think about, that I was in no way ready. But as soon as that idea was planted, I started working toward it. You are still young, don't feel as though you have to rush to the temple; it is a very large commitment to do so. It's not much beyond the commitment you've made at baptism, but it's enough that it should not be rushed or taken lightly.
     
    Fourth, you've mentioned talking to your bishopric about education on the subject, I'm assuming you mean your ovarian cancer? Or your mental health? My only other suggestion would be to talk to either your visiting teachers or your relief society president. They also have some stewardship over you and can be helpful in the healing process for you.
     
    If you are temple worthy, I would even suggest going to do baptisms all that you can. I always loved being in the temple, being able to pray for and receive answers there. And by putting your focus on temple service, it can help to prepare you for future covenants.
     
    Hang in there. Remember that Christ is a great comforter. He suffered every pain to help us through the Atonement, but He knows your struggles. Heavenly Father knows your struggles too. Heavenly Father gives each of us weaknesses, because we're here for the challenge of a lifetime. Lean on Him, talk to Him, and allow Him to make you a stronger Saint.
  18. Like
    yoyoteacher reacted to Josiah in Fears are holding me back from baptism   
    Hi Catlick! As others have said, you aren't alone. These kinds of concerns aren't new, and others have overcome them. You can overcome them too, if you want to! Here are some scriptures, quotes, and ideas that came to mind as I read your post. I hope some of them are helpful to you.    Warning: Really, really long post ahead.   
     
     
    As far as joining the church is concerned, this is probably not an issue. Other than the specific things the missionaries have gone over, as well as following the overall process of faith and repentance in all areas of your life, the rest is between you and your Heavenly Father. You don't need to become a picture-perfect cookie cutter "Mormon." In fact, I don't know that you even should.
     
    When Joseph Smith was asked how he was able to govern the early Church so effectively, his response was this:
    "I teach them correct principles, and they govern themselves."
     
    I like this a lot. Heavenly Father doesn't spell out exactly how to live, what to do, etc. He gives us the basic commandments as examples, and then teaches us principles to guide is with the rest. If, for whatever reason, the day comes when you feel in your heart that God wants you to give up rock music and Dateline, then of course you should. For now, focus less on the specifics and more on the principles behind them. Who does Heavenly Father want you to be? Who do you really want to be, and why? Borrowing from earlier in this thread, why are you so strongly considering making this change in your life in the first place? What principles are guiding you that way in spite of the challenges? Stuff like that.
     
     
    Bring the best of your religion with you, and just leave out what isn't right or good. Again, the principles are what matter most. The details have a way of working themselves out with time. From Moroni 7:13
    "But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God."
    Apply this test to anything from Catholicism, in light of the principles the missionaries are teaching you. Keep whatever helps you come closer to Christ. This will actually become easier after you are baptized and receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. That gift will help you discern (spiritually see and feel) what is good to keep and what is not.
     
     
    This one's a toughie. You probably feel obligated to your family to continue as you are, and you also probably feel somewhat obligated to your LDS friends and to the missionaries to attend there and be baptized. Those issues are real. But keep in mind that what's most important by far is your obligation to God, and to do what you feel in your heart is right.
    Even if you could make a decision that would please everyone you know, how would you feel about it if you knew that God had wanted something different, that you hadn't followed your heart? Or, from another perspective, what would your decision be if nobody else were involved - not your family, not your friends of any belief, not the missionaries - only you and Heavenly Father. What does He really want? What do you want? It's easier said than done, but as much as you can, leave the rest to Him. It'll work out for the best.
    Matthew 19:29 "And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life."
    No price is too great to find the peace of knowing and feeling that you are doing God's will. 
     
    You can! It might not be a flawless transition, but you'll get there. There is power in the Atonement of Jesus Christ beyond what you or I can even comprehend. With His help, you can do it. You can resist. You can function without it. You can even be happier than ever before without it - if you choose to do so with all your heart! Also keep in mind that if you quit, get baptized, and then cave once a week later, it isn't the end of the world - as long as you learn from it and keep trying. When we're following Christ and doing our best, mistakes become lessons, not condemnations. They are stepping stones, not roadblocks. You have nothing to fear except the danger of not trying or giving up.
    Luke 17:6 "And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you."
     
     
    Your first calling in particular is unlikely to be especially demanding. The Lord realizes that this is a transition. He won't give you more than you can handle, although it may look like it at first. It can be a test of our trust in Him, but He provides a way. I can testify that the Lord has helped me immensely in my schooling and family relationships - far beyond what I would have gained on my own with the time I have spent serving in the church, including 2 years away as a full-time missionary. Believe me, any sacrifice you make doing God's will is returned to you a hundredfold (see again Matthew 19:29). That includes the value of your time.
     
    I know this is a long one already, but one last thought. The title of this thread says a lot. I may be wrong (let me know if so), but it implies to me that you want to be baptized and you are already trying to move in that direction, but are being restrained from realizing that desire - mainly by fear. If you really have already settled in your mind and heart what is right and true, know that faith is opposed to fear, and can overcome it. Know that "God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Tim 1:7)" Know that you have access to the power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ to overcome your fears to the degree that you will trust Him! 
     
    I think you would really like this talk. It was given by Elder David A. Bednar, of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, not too long ago. Elder Bednar's words given here have helped me work toward overcoming certain fears of my own in the past few months.
     
    https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/therefore-they-hushed-their-fears?lang=eng
     
    I hope something here has helped you. Best of luck!
  19. Like
    yoyoteacher reacted to Vort in Baby blessing question for a convert   
    You are thinking about this ordinance wrong. Why do we bless babies, anyway? Is it for the babies? Do they really need a public blessing? In general, no. The baby blessing is (among other things) a way for the baby to be introduced to their ward family. The Saints need to fellowship with other Saints; that is one of the great blessings of Church membership.
     
    For my children's baby blessings, in addition to all Priesthood-holding family members who could come -- grandfathers, uncles, great-uncles, you name it -- I always invited the bishop or other presiding authority to stand in the circle (he would have anyway), as well as our home teachers. I often invited certain special friends in the ward, such as previous home teachers, to stand in, too. I didn't want to do the two-row-circle thing, so I didn't go overboard; more family present meant less inviting of others. But I definitely wanted ward as well as family to participate.
  20. Like
    yoyoteacher got a reaction from Jane_Doe in Curious Situation...   
    I have a friend in my YSA branch who is about 3 months from "phasing out" of the branch as he will be turning 31. He does a wonderful job in his calling as ward mission leader. He is active, he participates, and he's trying to assimilate and be part of the branch. He feels like he is going to be kicked out in October, but I don't feel as though he is going to be kicked out. Perhaps he will be, but our branch president is very understanding.
     
    I think it will honestly depend on the makeup of your YSA branch. Our area is a drastic mix of young'ns (under 20) and oldies (over 25) without much inbetween. You would probably fit in nicely in my branch. But if your area is full of very young YSAs, I could see a branch president being much less inclined to include. If that makes sense.
  21. Like
    yoyoteacher got a reaction from Pa Pa in The best way to retain faith is to defend it.   
    I feel like I have to do this often, though I think that comes with being the only Mormon some of my friends know. It's a very interesting blessing to have, to be sure.
     
    I'm looking forward to being able to explain my faith further in the near future to my family. There's much they understand, but still a lot that I could do to help them more.
  22. Like
    yoyoteacher reacted to Milluw in The best way to retain faith is to defend it.   
    A few years back a friend of mine came to visit. We had not spoken for years. In those years time we had both changed a lot. She also said i was hardly recognizable, because back then i were a bit of a wild cat, but now i were a mormon - and it had made a noticable difference. She had changed as well, but still had a few of the bad habits that we used to share. So we talked all night long. Being mormon isn't a commen thing here in Denmark, so it is not uncommen that people think of it as some sort of cult. Though people does seem to have become in general a bit more informed.
     
    Well, questions came rolling in, and i tried my best to answer them :) and found myself increasingly feeling the spirit as i defended and explained my fondness of my faith, as you do. Much to my surprise i found out that she had felt something too, while talking about it. And for the next months we talked back and forth and within a short time in those months she had begun getting missionary visits.
     
    Long story short, because of all of this she stopped her bad habits one by one and then she was babtised after about six months period.
     
    You never know what happends in people's heart when they see your passion. And how the holy spirit works with them. It certaintly surprised me.
  23. Like
    yoyoteacher got a reaction from askandanswer in Teen LDS girl "gets saved" while visiting friends church- How will her family respond   
    Honestly, I had a similar experience in my conversion to the church. I went to Wednesday mutuals with friends, attended church services on Sundays with friends. I was asked if I wanted to go to youth conference, and I said sure. Our stake rotates through and goes to the local (read: I live in Missouri) church history sites every four years, and we happened to go to Independence, Far West, Adam-Ohndi-Ahman, and Liberty on this conference. At the end, we went to a church building for a testimony meeting. I listened to a lot of what was said by others and near the end of the hour, I had this strong feeling that I wanted to get up and say something.
     
    It wasn't a testimony that followed the typical format, but I expressed my happiness at being invited and how I loved the kindness and acceptance that the other youth had shown to me over the weekend. I said that I could see the light that they shared with others and I wished I had something like that in my life.
     
    At that point, was I converted? In some ways, yes. I started the discussions with the missionaries shortly after. But in many ways, my expression was no more than a desire to come closer to Christ. And in the end, isn't that what we all want and need, to come closer to Christ? If that conversion comes through our experiences in LDS settings or while discussing gospel values with friends of other faiths, does that lessen the conversion? If this girl has expressed that she is "born again," maybe she's just expressing that she feels closer to her Savior, not a desire to leave the Latter-day Saint community.
  24. Like
    yoyoteacher got a reaction from Maureen in Teen LDS girl "gets saved" while visiting friends church- How will her family respond   
    Honestly, I had a similar experience in my conversion to the church. I went to Wednesday mutuals with friends, attended church services on Sundays with friends. I was asked if I wanted to go to youth conference, and I said sure. Our stake rotates through and goes to the local (read: I live in Missouri) church history sites every four years, and we happened to go to Independence, Far West, Adam-Ohndi-Ahman, and Liberty on this conference. At the end, we went to a church building for a testimony meeting. I listened to a lot of what was said by others and near the end of the hour, I had this strong feeling that I wanted to get up and say something.
     
    It wasn't a testimony that followed the typical format, but I expressed my happiness at being invited and how I loved the kindness and acceptance that the other youth had shown to me over the weekend. I said that I could see the light that they shared with others and I wished I had something like that in my life.
     
    At that point, was I converted? In some ways, yes. I started the discussions with the missionaries shortly after. But in many ways, my expression was no more than a desire to come closer to Christ. And in the end, isn't that what we all want and need, to come closer to Christ? If that conversion comes through our experiences in LDS settings or while discussing gospel values with friends of other faiths, does that lessen the conversion? If this girl has expressed that she is "born again," maybe she's just expressing that she feels closer to her Savior, not a desire to leave the Latter-day Saint community.
  25. Like
    yoyoteacher got a reaction from pkstpaul in Teen LDS girl "gets saved" while visiting friends church- How will her family respond   
    Honestly, I had a similar experience in my conversion to the church. I went to Wednesday mutuals with friends, attended church services on Sundays with friends. I was asked if I wanted to go to youth conference, and I said sure. Our stake rotates through and goes to the local (read: I live in Missouri) church history sites every four years, and we happened to go to Independence, Far West, Adam-Ohndi-Ahman, and Liberty on this conference. At the end, we went to a church building for a testimony meeting. I listened to a lot of what was said by others and near the end of the hour, I had this strong feeling that I wanted to get up and say something.
     
    It wasn't a testimony that followed the typical format, but I expressed my happiness at being invited and how I loved the kindness and acceptance that the other youth had shown to me over the weekend. I said that I could see the light that they shared with others and I wished I had something like that in my life.
     
    At that point, was I converted? In some ways, yes. I started the discussions with the missionaries shortly after. But in many ways, my expression was no more than a desire to come closer to Christ. And in the end, isn't that what we all want and need, to come closer to Christ? If that conversion comes through our experiences in LDS settings or while discussing gospel values with friends of other faiths, does that lessen the conversion? If this girl has expressed that she is "born again," maybe she's just expressing that she feels closer to her Savior, not a desire to leave the Latter-day Saint community.