sxfritz

I was raised Catholic and I prayed then the same as I pray now as LDS.  Any of the rote prayers were used in guiding meditation. My father taught me to meditate the seven mysteries of Christ ("The Sorrowful Mysteries")as I prayed the rote prayers of the Rosary. They guided my thoughts toward Christ in a way my praying now finds lacking.
 
Nonetheless, I was raised to pray personal prayers that included being thankful and asking for blessing, just as I do now. I just don't do the sign of the cross before and after...although I wouldn't find it offensive to do so.

I have always been clear with my children about what I found to be the truth. My children, and now grandchildren, see me living the gospel despite the quirks we can't fully understand about church history. It is hard to understand any period of history, because we live in such different times than any generation before. 

Perhaps it is specific to the teacher. I, for one, had a terrible time with team teachers in the room. It was generally a mess with no chemistry. I guess we just lacked faith. Personally, I think the kids deserved better and did better with a dedicated teacher.

The child being a minor, I wouldn't force the visit but I would tell the bishop. The child being an adult, I wouldn't (and didn't).

Blanket regulations should be used to provide actual protection to the children and legal protection to the ward. Ramping up the regulations because it is not fair to men unnecessarily ties the hands of those trying to run the programs.  On the other hand, if "two-deep leadership" is intended to optimize learning and provide actual protection to children, then great.  I've seen two statistics tossed out here.  One says 96% of those who prey on children are men.  If so, two-deep leadership seems needlessly burdensome.  The other said that 80% of the perps are men.  Now we're approaching an area where two-deep becomes a policy to consider.  If the male rate goes to 75% or lower, I'd contend for two leaders per class.  Of course, my view gets tossed out of local laws are specific.

I am male, a High Priest, and I taught Primary for six years. Most years, I taught alone. Any time we had two deep, the lessons degraded not improved. I support the presidency monitoring and the doors to have windows, and classes combined when there is low attendance. But to double up for the sake of doubling would be a burden on everyone involved (including the children). Care should be given in select and monitor the teacher - male or female, to judge performance by talking with the parents of the children. This may sound like work, but not nearly as much as finding double teachers when it is hard enough to find one good, willing teacher.
 
Besides, perpetration of a crime isn't going to happen in the class. A child may be "groomed" in a class but it is up to the parent to monitor the relationship outside of class. They shouldn't be letting their children go off with a single member, in any case other then best friends who already have an established trusted relationship. 
 
Greatest calling ever! I wish I could have stayed in there 20 years.

I am male, a High Priest, and I taught Primary for six years. Most years, I taught alone. Any time we had two deep, the lessons degraded not improved. I support the presidency monitoring and the doors to have windows, and classes combined when there is low attendance. But to double up for the sake of doubling would be a burden on everyone involved (including the children). Care should be given in select and monitor the teacher - male or female, to judge performance by talking with the parents of the children. This may sound like work, but not nearly as much as finding double teachers when it is hard enough to find one good, willing teacher.
 
Besides, perpetration of a crime isn't going to happen in the class. A child may be "groomed" in a class but it is up to the parent to monitor the relationship outside of class. They shouldn't be letting their children go off with a single member, in any case other then best friends who already have an established trusted relationship. 
 
Greatest calling ever! I wish I could have stayed in there 20 years.

I know it isn't helpful to comment and to have NOT done what you describe but I have been planning it. I plan to hike as much of the Appalachian Trail as my body can handle. I've done a bit of reading on it and it is well documented. I'd start in Georgia in early Spring, since it will be warm there and head north.
 
I have friends (an older couple) that did that type of hike on the west coast. The wife had an injury a few weeks in they stopped for a couple of months but did resume. 
 
I'm hoping to compile good experiences for my fiction writing. 

I did my self-evaluation just yesterday - mid-year reviews. It is a painful exercise and I would echo the comments above. Fact is, it is a necessary evil. As a manager (for many years now), I have reviewed dozens of other self-evaluations. I think it important to be as positive and self-promoting as possible. Nobody else is going to toot your horn for you. Don't worry about the 'no room to grow' idea. The room to grow is a promotion. You need to be at the next level "before" you get promoted, so best to try and show you are there now. 

No doubt, you will be finding as much information against the faith as you will about it. Please consider that the "anti" folks are pretty much anti any church but their own or are LDS who fell away. In other words, take it with a grain of salt. Meet some LDS in your community. You'll find most of us to be normal in every way. 
 
I don't doubt you are being pulled by the Spirit. There are many miracles and stories such as yours. Please continue to follow. 
 
Please as questions here. You will get a diversity of opinions. We're not a bunch of clones.
 
You can meet the missionaries in other places. In fact, if you are a single male, Sisters generally won't meet with you alone. I was taught at my office. Their schedules are very flexible. You pick the time and place and they'll be there. 

I don't believe others have much of a say in the matter. For the sake of harmony, you should trust her and support her.
 
I personally would wait on the sealing. I suppose they want to make sure any children are covered under the covenant. 
 
My son did something very similar to your cousin although all in very slow motion and with support from others. They have yet to be sealed (although qualified, at this time).

Thanks everyone :)
 
I'm feeling pretty good. There's definitely been some awkwardness between some family and friends that are Mormon and or Christian in general but overall we've come to accept our differences.
 
@Anatess! I've been around, just mostly pregnant and trying to keep busy and active :) I have less than 12 weeks left and this baby is due!

I am sure that is painful. My wife's family is unaccepting of our faith yet they have no faith. They view us (LDS) as the intolerant and judgemental, yet they have never personally seen that from my wife and myself.  

Sometimes it may be disease. Or maybe more accurately sometimes dis-ease.

Every person has their own life experiences and knowledge to draw upon, and often the case this causes people no matter how rightly or wrongly build views that are different.
 
To compound the issue people in general don't actually have open minds (rightly and wrongly), and their hearts are hardened to things that may differ from the view they have built.

Compassion might be a good start, it tends to be soothing to those in dis ease.

I officially resigned from the LDS Church earlier this year. I don't regret it, it was something I needed to do. But between then and now, I am finding myself relating more to agnostic concepts, rather than full-on atheist ones. I feel that a divine being cannot be proved nor can it be disproved. I am open to the possibility that a God or gods exist beyond this realm, but I am also open to the possibility that this life is it and nothing is beyond. Either outcome is all good, as I will continue to treat others as I wish to be treated, and I will strive to not take the small things for granted.
 
I also wanted to thank everyone here who has always shown kindness to me, answering my questions and giving insight when asked, I appreciate it. I've learnt a lot from the discussions on here, and even as an ex-member, I can affirm that the gospel has instilled positives in my life. (Like the importance of family and continually building up your marriage.)
 
Anyway, this is just a little update on how I'm doing for anyone that cares, haha. Like I tell people, both believers and non-believers, even though I don't subscribe to any religious belief, I still consider myself being in tuned with spirituality - peace and harmony - that good stuff :)

I'm siding with Vort on this. I will also say that you (the two of you) have made this a focus of your relationship, or at least too much of a focus. I'm reading your description and thinking you both are addicted to porn. He watching it and you curing it. It is almost as if he is using it to manipulate you. The focus appears to be at an unhealthy level.
 
There are other guys; better men. Let this one go and find a healthy relationship.

It is entirely up to your bishop and stake president. They do give recommends to people who cannot attend church. If you share with them your specifics, they may in fact feel justified in issuing a recommend. Don't hold yourself back from asking.

He was just a (rather large) mass of tissue, anyway.

I'v done it in several countries. It becomes natural and not worrisome. I generally had issues pulling in and out of parking lots so I learned to take extra caution and go slower when making those turns.  I never found myself driving on the wrong side of the road and getting in harms way.  I did find my windshield wipers went on whenever I made a turn. The turn signal controls are opposite too.

It is okay to give the bishopric member information they may need to consider the circumstance and then ask for a week for them to reconsider. I've sat in the Bishopric meeting enough times (years) to know how callings are assigned and, although the Spirit does give a confirmation that a calling should be extended to you, it is accepted by the bishopric that they do so with limited insight into the selection and any discussion with you is of value in giving further consideration. The Spirit may have only been telling them they needed to talk to you about the calling and not necessarily that you are the only one for it.  
 
Seen it many times.

It is okay to give the bishopric member information they may need to consider the circumstance and then ask for a week for them to reconsider. I've sat in the Bishopric meeting enough times (years) to know how callings are assigned and, although the Spirit does give a confirmation that a calling should be extended to you, it is accepted by the bishopric that they do so with limited insight into the selection and any discussion with you is of value in giving further consideration. The Spirit may have only been telling them they needed to talk to you about the calling and not necessarily that you are the only one for it.  
 
Seen it many times.

I think that (a) no one would ever lose his temple recommend over drinking Diet Coke, and (b) if we honestly strove to live the Word of Wisdom in spirit and not merely in letter, we would give up sugared or caffeinated soda pop completely, whether or not it affected our temple recommend status.

When I was called as Scoutmaster I always welcomed Dads to go camping. After one camp out had a Dad approach me on a Sunday and told me according to their son I was kinda hard on him over the weekend. He was correct .... Their son was a punk and he is lucky I didn't choke him that weekend. I said to the Dad , we are going again on such and such date and you are welcome to come along ..... Soon as I said that I get ..... Aaaahhhhhhh weeeelllllllllllll aaaaahhhhhhhhhh can I get back with you ?? You bet. He never went and I never heard anything more about their son.

I did my self-evaluation just yesterday - mid-year reviews. It is a painful exercise and I would echo the comments above. Fact is, it is a necessary evil. As a manager (for many years now), I have reviewed dozens of other self-evaluations. I think it important to be as positive and self-promoting as possible. Nobody else is going to toot your horn for you. Don't worry about the 'no room to grow' idea. The room to grow is a promotion. You need to be at the next level "before" you get promoted, so best to try and show you are there now. 

Our Stake President specifically asked that we don't do this. He expressed that past experiences have proven the discussions lead away from the Spirit.