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What a wonderful insight to have. What a blessing it is to realize this has actually happened upon being released. By feeling this, once again your testimony is reinforced to the fact that you "were" and that you will "again" some day be uplifted and supported by Heavenly Father while faithfully serving in the Church. It was always imperative to me that when members received their callings, that we set them apart soon. Being set apart is real, and comes with real blessing to not only carry the mantle but receive inspiration while fulfilling their calling. Now days, if someone I know hasn't been set apart, I always encourage them stand in front of the Ward offices after church and kindly insist that it be done Moons ago I was the Gospel Doctrine Instructor for several years. All week long ideas and thoughts would flow to me about the lesson. I had a very well oiled routine and loved my calling. Upon being released, I was sitting in the audience the following week, my mind was blank to "quick insights" and I opened my mouth to give an answer... sharing what "I knew"... and what came out instead, was a wrong answer. Hah!! I was no longer the GD Instructor, that mantle had moved to the next person.

4. I wonder why all the uproar over Polygamy back in the Eastern United States. I wonder if political cartoons depicted Polygamy in a positive/fair light? People out east apparently got their first glimpse of the WWE Royal Rumble thanks to illustrations in support of the "Anti-Mormon Legislature". Uh... lovely 5. The Church's Young Woman Organization was originally called, The Young Ladies' National Mutual Improvement Association or YLMIA. Later shortened to MIA and then weekly activities became known as Mutual. @Eowyn In 1950 - Age groups were realigned: Beehives 12-13 Mia Maids 14-15 (m.i.a. maids?) Junior Gleaners 16-17 Gleaners 18-24 1959 - The name Gleaners is changed to Laurels 6. Some people try to sell "Mormon" items on Ebay for a lot of money:

Yes, absolutely. I have felt this way many times. Part of it is the mantle of responsibility being lifted. Part of this feeling comes from a little loss of identity. Before you had a secure place in the puzzle of the Church organization, and now... how do you fit? Part of it is perhaps realizing that you actually did enjoy and love your calling even more that you knew. Being productive serving in the church is rewarding, and taking that away can feel blahhhh for a while. I have a church binder and on the cover I keep the following quote that I reference, especially with demanding callings: "Only if you sacrifice for a cause will you love it". Demanding callings require sacrifice and the side effect of it all is we tend to love our callings. Never fear @Str8Shooter, one thing that is guaranteed in the church is that another calling will be on the horizon soon enough!

I agree with Lehi. Here is an AskGramps expansion on what Lehi shared: When does the Sabbath Day actually begin and end?

Hello Tbone, I am sorry that you find yourself in a situation that you feel lonely. Being lonely, is well, a lonely place to be. I am glad you found "us" here. We are happy to be a support to you and act as surrogate members of your branch. There are several members here that find themselves in similar circumstances when it comes to a small branch and few members in their area. One of the blessings of modern times is that you can connect with others like us remotely and find spiritual strengthen that way. I greatly enjoy my interactions here on lds.net and find the quality of members here to be uplifting and a strength. So again... welcome! When it comes to member's "outreach" or the lack thereof, I am reminded of a couple of key points: 1. No one is paid in the Branch. Every bit of outreach is done out of free service. Every time someone is off visiting another it is time that they are not doing something they might need to personally do themselves, at their own home, with their own family. 2. As we look at others and wonder "why aren't they visiting ME?", we should also look in the mirror and say, "When was the last time I went and visited them?". Service to one another is a two way street. I would encourage you to visit others in your Branch. Take a little treat, say hi, reintroduce yourself if haven't been to church in a while. There is no requirement to wait for them, you can take the first step instead! 3. Become friends with members, not simply "Brother and Sister". As friends, you will naturally look out and visit each other anyways. 4. Make sure you have a calling. Callings will naturally put you in contact with other members and help open doors to becoming a friend. Well, those are just a couple of thoughts. Welcome again!

1. Will you or someone you know (none member) have a layover at SLC Airport? Catch a Free Church shuttle to go tour Temple Square instead of sitting at the airport! 2. The debate still lives on: Are the "White Indians" found in Central & South America albinos or not? 3. As the Church asks for our help in aiding refugees, remember that President Uchtdorf, of the First Presidency was once a refugee himself. Desert News Article Also, in Church history, we as a Church body were once refugees: “The refugee story is not well known among most members of the Church, but it is a very important and positive story from Mormon history,” said Michael L. Hutchings, a trustee of the foundation. “Many of us have ancestors that arrived in Quincy from Missouri during that winter of 1838–39. The 1,500 citizens of Quincy received and assisted over 5,000 Latter-day Saints in their time of great need during that cold winter. The Mormons were in need of shelter, food, clothing, and jobs and were received with great humanity. There was perhaps no greater time of need in Latter-day Saint history than in Quincy during that winter.” More later perhaps, but I need to get ready for work now

Wonderful!

Hi David, are these last words a question on your part, "I think"? Are you asking if we do believe in reincarnation?

1. I've learned that the Home Inspections you order when purchasing a home are superficial at best. The specialized issues/problems that you "hope" they will find and save you from, they don't. They aren't trained well enough. Before buying a home, get a quote from an actual contractor and ask them what is wrong with something. Night and day difference in what they will find vs. a generic Home Inspection service. 2. Customers will take every minute of everyday IF you allow them to... set boundaries and limit your availability. By being less available, you can appear busier than you might be and in turn create greater demand for yourself because you "appear" to be in great demand already. 3. Yes Sir, no sales = no jobs for anyone. Doesn't matter if you have the world's best/talented staff if no one is buying your goods/services, you are done for. 4. Hire the more expensive competent person. Become the more expensive person. People with actual money want quality not bargains.

Over the years the story of Abinadi has always been a source of strength for me. I have been able to pull from it many personal meanings in my life. Strength to stand alone. Strength to stand alone while standing for what is right/correct/true. An example of holding on to your testimony regardless of how many others around you are unrighteous and how many of your friends/family fall away from the truth. I kept the following painting taped in the front of my Book of Mormon my entire mission. Tonight while doing laundry I turned on a Book of Mormon series that I really enjoy: Book of Mormon Central - Knowhy This episode #96 referred to Mosiah 17:13 "And it came to pass that they took him (Abinadi) and bound him, and scourged his skin with faggots, yea, even unto death." It was interesting enough that I thought I would share it here for those of you who enjoy BOM studies and interesting facts. Viewing this only helps increase my appreciation for what Abinadi did and sacrificed.

I'm off to church right now, but great post Traveler. I can't wait to get home and respond with more time. I l-o-v-e learning and thoroughly enjoy all the variety and challenging questions/thoughts/perspectives shared here... this is in big part why I love coming here! No apology needed on my end. In my mind, if we were all "yes men/women" it would not give us the opportunity to stretch and grow.

@DoctorLemon I'm in the same boat, fear not Brother, you are not alone! My total sports viewing in the past year has been: 1x - BYU football game vs. National Team (with Members of the Ward) 1x - Super Bowl (with Members of the Ward) 1x - NCAA Basketball Championship (Watched to keep my wife company) We do have a minor league baseball team in our city. We see them once or twice a year. Every time we leave early and say "why do we come, none of us like baseball?" That was it, 3 TV games total! I never watched sports growing up, so in like turn I have had zero desire now as an adult. I'm sure my kids will be the same. We always find something else more creative/meaningful/significant/interesting to do like: watch water boil or paint dry!

Not really the same smell as sulfur, but there was a city in our mission called Talcahuano, Chile. Port city heavily dependent on fish and fish processing. The entire town stunk to high heaven of fish. Simply arriving on the bus to the city you smelled it. Worse was on rain days, the fish smell fell from the skies and soaked your clothes. Every time there were zone conferences, everyone knew by the smell which city you were serving in. Lovely! Thinking of sulfur smell, we walked our entire mission, and our socks would produce sulfur smells. I had a semi-greenie companion that was testing his limits with me one day. That night once the lights went out, in the dark, I hung my rancid socks dangling from the bottom of the top bunk suspended above his nose on the bottom bunk. I cried tears of laughter that night as I heard him break down in Spanish trying to figure out why it stunk so bad that night!

Yeah, but not sealed to any of them, they were just pinky swears

I don't know the answer to this, but I do recall @classylady sharing some thoughts on this previously. Perhaps she might chime in on this?

Perhaps he did - could go either way Tell me who you want to vote for and I'll use my vote towards your request. Should "we" vote for bad, badder or baddddderrederr?

Hah!

Sorry Pam, but it didn't actually happen unless a credible source like the SLTribune reports it.

I had to quote this before you could edit it because it put a smile on my face! Glad you enjoyed your trip and were able to see some eye opening things. Curious in ways did you see this manifesting itself, I'd like to learn? Thanks

Ummm, are you referring to Doctor Who's Police Box??

Just finished the article and boy, there is something I had never heard of before. Either those are earthquake lights, the camera flashes of others taking pictures of Moroni get struck with lightning or fancy Photoshop?

I agree with NT, please let us know how things are going @TilKingdomCome. Thanks NT for sharing the links too, I have just about finished this site, minus the videos. This caught my attention: "There is no change in the Church's position of what is morally right. But what is changing - and what needs to change - is to help Church members respond sensitively and thoughtfully when they encounter same-sex attraction in their own families, among other Church members, or elsewhere" I agree with Yjacket. Same link above states, "Same-sex attraction itself is not a sin, but yielding to it is." Also later it states, "Reconciling same-sex attraction with a religious life can present an especially trying dilemma. Anyone who lives in both worlds can attest to its difficulty. But with faith, love and perspective it can be done". Elder Holland gave great talk: Helping those who struggle with same-sex attraction ""The First Presidency has stated, "There is a distinction between immoral thoughts and feelings and participating in either immoral heterosexual or any homosexual behavior." If you do not act on temptations, you have not transgressed.""

Thanks for your thoughts FP. I often like to see if there is any additional background or further explination to a "strongly discouraged" statement for my own curiosity, but it is not a requirement for me.

dup

Great comment Windseeker. There are clearly ill thought out, ill timed and ill worded ways of sharing a secret with a spouse. Consult the Lord in advance and rely on the Spirit to know what to say, how to say it and when to say it. This is a great point Connie. Because the "step of restitution" was never executed, did the person who says they repented actually repent? The answer is no. Because this missing step, is well still missing, the person (who sinned) will never find "true" closure. The feeling that he/she should confess to their spouse will rear it's head over and over again throughout the marriage. Elder Wirthlin: "You are free to choose and are permitted to act, but you are not free to choose the consequences". Hymn 237 - " Do what is right; let the consequence follow. " Gospel Principles manual - "If we have sinned against another person, we should confess to the person we have injured." Was another person sinned against? If so then this portion/step of repentance applies. The manual doesn't say "If we have sinned against another person, BUT we only personally feel it was a lesser sin, then no need to confess to them". Spot on as always