laronius

Also, keep in mind that children age 8 and older, who have died, do have their temple work done by proxy. That would be baptism, if not baptized before death, Priesthood Ordination for males, Iniatory, and Endowment. Of course, they would have been too young to be married, so Sealing to a spouse would not be done.
I’m hesitant to share all details, but I had a very spiritual experience about a young cousin who died at the age of 13 around 1970/71. Her immediate family are not active members. She was a baptized member, but no one thought to have her temple work done. Those of you who have done a lot of Family History know that the veil can be thin at times, and spiritual insight is often gained. A number of years after her death, I happened to be in a spiritual environment, in the right mindset, and my mind was enlightened to the fact that my cousin needed her temple work done. I immediately called my grandmother to see if she knew if the temple work had been done. She didn’t know. So, I had to do some research. It hadn’t been done. This was all before Family Search. Now, it is so easy to go online and look to see if ordinances need to be done.
I don’t understand everything pertaining to the importance of the temple ordinances, but I know they need to be done even for those youth who have died after baptism, but before other life milestones have occurred. After my 19 year old daughter died in a car accident, we had her temple work done as soon as the one year waiting period was over.

That's a good catch and makes perfect sense in light of the fact that as John the Revelator pointed out "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy." 

Yesterday I was reading Alma 31, where the Zoramites are first encountered and their "prayers" (don't know if you've ever noticed, but their descriptions of "God" match Satan to a T), and I noticed something that I realized was a pattern among all those who were Anti-Christ:
Zoramites:
Nehors:
Sherem:
Korihor:
All of them deny the possibility of knowing things to come - prophecy.  Now, it's obvious that Satan would want this in order to deny Jesus Christ and prevent people from believing in him.  But Korihor gives us further insight: "a foolish and a vain hope".  Satan wants to take away hope, to focus people's thoughts on the present (both its problems and its pleasures), to keep one from having any reason for improvement or long-term effort.
Anyone else have other thoughts or recognize other patterns shown by the various Anti-Christ groups / individuals in the Book of Mormon (interestingly, I cannot think of other scripture that explicitly demonstrates actual individuals and groups who are Anti-Christ...).

It is clear that some progressed farther in the premortal realm than others.  It is also clear that God has some say over who ends up where in mortality.  IMO, it is entirely possible that those who died before the age of accountability were (largely?) spirits who progressed farther than the rest of us.  At the very least, it would seem they did not need a lot of time in mortality to progress.  (Yes, all my speculation, but it seems reasonable.)

Welcome to the forum.
In addition to what others have mentioned, I believe the phrase child of God also describes a specific
group of people in the spiritual sense, for Jesus referred to some as children of the devil.
This is from Romans 8:14-17. I will bold the key parts.
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the
spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba,
Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children,
then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be
also glorified together.

Welcome to the forum @Michael Hickman.  I hope to hear more of your journey.
Anciently the term “Children of ______” was often used to make reference to a covenant.  The blank in the phrase is a reference to the source of the convenient or the proctor of the covenant.  This also applies to the phrase “Son of _____”.
The concept of peace or a peace maker is someone that is able to end the cycle of vengeance through repentance and forgiveness.  In the L-rd’s prayer the concept of asking G-d to forgive us our trespass as we forgive our trespassers is the type and shadow of a peacemaker – this is in opposition to seeking revenge for those that trespass against us.
The model is very simple.  The basis of our forgiveness to enter into covenant with G-d is to seek forgiveness of our sins and also to forgive others of their sins – especially those that do us harm.  This ends the cycles of violence and is the only path to peace.  This is the essence of Baptism and the beginning of becoming a Saint of G-d the standard of which in a society is plural and can properly be called “the Children of G-d”.
 
The Traveler

I'm pretty sure that's how the Nephites escaped from Lamanite captivity, just waited for high council Sunday and those Lamanite guards entered into a coma-like sleep.

Did you hear about the Relief Society President, the High Councilor, and the Bishop who got kidnapped?  Turns out the Church won't pay ransoms, so the kidnappers inform the three they will be killed, but the kidnappers will grant them a (reasonable) dying request.  The RSP says, "I'd like to sing all seven verses of my favorite hymn, 'A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief'."  They agree and turn to the High Councilor.  "It never fails," he says. "I prepare a 20 minute talk, but by the time I get to speak, there are only 5 minutes left in the meeting.  I'd like to give all of my most recent talk."  The kidnappers reluctantly agree and turn to the bishop, who says,  "I'd like to hear the Relief Society President sing her favorite hymn, but shoot me before the High Councilor gives his talk."

If it happens on high council Sunday it might liven things up a bit. 

I think we see a great example of how this works when Christ visited the Nephites. In 3 Nephi 17 we read: 14 And it came to pass that when they had knelt upon the ground, Jesus groaned within himself, and said: Father, I am troubled because of the wickedness of the people of the house of Israel.
Then he prays great and amazing things for the people, after which he says: 20 Blessed are ye because of your faith. And now behold, my joy is full.
I think even within the divine characteristic of omniscience it is possible to be aware of something without always dwelling upon it. 

Agree!  Same for us-  even our kids that choose stupidity in some aspects of their lives have other excellent attributes, there are so many good things to be aware of at the same time.

I think we see a great example of how this works when Christ visited the Nephites. In 3 Nephi 17 we read: 14 And it came to pass that when they had knelt upon the ground, Jesus groaned within himself, and said: Father, I am troubled because of the wickedness of the people of the house of Israel.
Then he prays great and amazing things for the people, after which he says: 20 Blessed are ye because of your faith. And now behold, my joy is full.
I think even within the divine characteristic of omniscience it is possible to be aware of something without always dwelling upon it. 

I think we see a great example of how this works when Christ visited the Nephites. In 3 Nephi 17 we read: 14 And it came to pass that when they had knelt upon the ground, Jesus groaned within himself, and said: Father, I am troubled because of the wickedness of the people of the house of Israel.
Then he prays great and amazing things for the people, after which he says: 20 Blessed are ye because of your faith. And now behold, my joy is full.
I think even within the divine characteristic of omniscience it is possible to be aware of something without always dwelling upon it. 

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
And finally, I cannot tell you all the things whereby ye may commit sin; for there are divers ways and means, even so many that I cannot number them.
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
I am the way
there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come

I totally get the idea of developing a relationship with God through prayer and I understand how He withholds blessings from us until we ask as part of that learning process. What I haven't truly come to terms with is how praying for others works. Would God withhold a blessing from another person because I don't pray for them? Would Alma the younger have been left to his life of sin had his father not prayed earnestly for him? Today I am fasting for a friend who is having a serious surgery performed today but I found myself wondering last night wether God's plan for her would be at all influenced by the prayers of mine and others. We are taught that somehow it does but I'm trying to reconcile in my mind the justness of such a principle. I understand that it's not just justice but mercy too, but if a successful result of the surgery is in the best interest for my friend would not God grant that anyways?

I totally get the idea of developing a relationship with God through prayer and I understand how He withholds blessings from us until we ask as part of that learning process. What I haven't truly come to terms with is how praying for others works. Would God withhold a blessing from another person because I don't pray for them? Would Alma the younger have been left to his life of sin had his father not prayed earnestly for him? Today I am fasting for a friend who is having a serious surgery performed today but I found myself wondering last night wether God's plan for her would be at all influenced by the prayers of mine and others. We are taught that somehow it does but I'm trying to reconcile in my mind the justness of such a principle. I understand that it's not just justice but mercy too, but if a successful result of the surgery is in the best interest for my friend would not God grant that anyways?

I totally get the idea of developing a relationship with God through prayer and I understand how He withholds blessings from us until we ask as part of that learning process. What I haven't truly come to terms with is how praying for others works. Would God withhold a blessing from another person because I don't pray for them? Would Alma the younger have been left to his life of sin had his father not prayed earnestly for him? Today I am fasting for a friend who is having a serious surgery performed today but I found myself wondering last night wether God's plan for her would be at all influenced by the prayers of mine and others. We are taught that somehow it does but I'm trying to reconcile in my mind the justness of such a principle. I understand that it's not just justice but mercy too, but if a successful result of the surgery is in the best interest for my friend would not God grant that anyways?

Welcome.
While there may be those who are less interested in dating a convert I think there is a much bigger issue with dating in general aming the younger generation. There are some pretty amazing women who just don't get married (Sis Nelson for example for most of her life). I can't say I know why but you gotta have faith in the Lord's plan for you, no matter the circumstances in life. All blessings are promised the faithful.

Welcome.
While there may be those who are less interested in dating a convert I think there is a much bigger issue with dating in general aming the younger generation. There are some pretty amazing women who just don't get married (Sis Nelson for example for most of her life). I can't say I know why but you gotta have faith in the Lord's plan for you, no matter the circumstances in life. All blessings are promised the faithful.

After twenty years of marriage, my wife and I are pretty in tune with each other’s short-term needs and wants, values, opinions on family and current events, etc.  I am a dedicated introvert; and my “love language” is time/service—I could spend an entire day saying fewer than ten words to my wife, and at the end of the day think that it had been a great day and that our marriage was going swimmingly.  But my wife, for her part, craves conversation; and the more people I meet the more I realize my penchant for solitude and silence is probably at least a little extreme.
God is a god of relationships.  Prayer, like an evening conversation with a spouse, isn’t about getting stuff or changing the other person’s mind (although vis a vis prayer, the scriptures tell us that can happen).  It’s ultimately about the bonding, reconciliation, and strengthening that comes through the fact that the conversation occurred at all.

I have wondered about this connection. Is it always to be taken literally?

It was a great visit. The GA and a member of the Stake Presidency came to visit me. We strongly felt the Holy Spirit, and it's been a long time since I felt it that powerfully. They shared a lot of love with me and it was moving. I feel grateful they selflessly took time out of their lives to visit me.
I believe the visit was meant to be. It even worked out to where we had the house to ourselves since I didn't have my 6-year old daughter with me like I usually would since she was at her friend's birthday party with her Mom.
Personal experiences, stories and advice were shared in response to my doubts about the Book of Mormon, and as the point was stressed to keep trying, I brought up how I was concerned I might talk myself into a testimony of the Book of Mormon versus accepting it based on truth. 
The Holy Spirit most strongly manifested itself to me when the GA shared how he had been praying earlier this morning to help even just one person today, and how this meeting was meant to be, and how his assignment to visit my area had been assigned by Elder Ballard. I received a distinct impression as he was sharing all this that it was true and had been orchestrated by God and the Holy Spirit.
I plan to stay in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and I will continue trying to develop within it. I can't deny how powerfully the Holy Spirit manifested itself to me. 
I still have many questions and maybe some will remain a mystery to me till after this mortal existence, but the important thing is I feel like God blessed me today to get over my hurdle of uneasiness about the Church with all the mounting questions and skepticism I had about it.
I know I have a lot to learn, and even though I'm a slow learner, I'm hopeful to bring others unto Jesus Christ by sharing the kind of love that was shared with me today. 
I'm taking a new approach starting today. When it comes to the Church, I'm not going to fixate on the things I don't understand. I will focus on the things I do understand and allow God to fill in the rest in due course.

I was going to say something similar. A testimony of the truthfulness of the Church as Jesus Christ's restored church can coexist with lots of unknowns and question marks. But this one is kinda key to that testimony. 

I think you're saying the same thing.
They church isn't looking for Satan to look positively upon them. But the church does care deeply about its reputation...but that's because the church's goal is to bring people unto Christ.

The Church generally isn't worried about what others think UNLESS a change will result in spreading the gospel faster. I remember 30 or so years ago when the Church started adding steeples to existing church buildings because they found that many did not even realize our churches were churches. So if it helps then sure. So we must ask ourselves whether it would make a difference?