NeedleinA

"Jim Jones comment" = "not trying to be confrontational"?? I believe everyone here is happy to help answer questions, that is in part why we are here. If someone tells us they hope the prophet doesn't tell us to all go commit suicide, well you have opened the gate for perhaps a little change in tone from a couple of us, speaking specifically for myself. If you are an adult (since your dad is 70), it is okay to pause and think before you say things like Jim Jones. Apology accepted. Done and done. I agree with both @zil and @Vort about your father trying to get things in order and perhaps make up for lost time.

"That is a great theory and all but why couldn't you have made your post shorter and easier for me to read, I mean geezzzzzzzzzzzzz, I only have the attention span of 15 seconds per post." - Needle The Cry Baby

Unrelated we moved within days of this event out of state, military assignment. They made contact with my father a Colonel at the time, that didn't go over too well, for them. As far as the poor Bishop, I'm not sure what the result was since we had moved.

Even prior to this comment, it was abundantly clear that your gospel understanding is unfortunately incredibly lacking and highly fragmented at best. Your above post simply solidifies for me my opinion of the whole situation. It strikes me as the careless immature response of a teenager that has lost an argument and has nothing intelligent left to say, stomping off and saying, "Well, oh yah, at least I'm not [insert any irrelevant physical feature] like you!". @Carborendum said it, if you don't believe, then stop worrying about it. Move on and leave your dad and his happiness alone and focus on your own life instead, I would guess he would appreciate it too.

Admittedly you have me a little lost. Are we talking about your dad getting remarried, or your dad going on a mission or that the church is supposedly teaching people to practice polygamy? Can you please clarify your actual concern to one sentence for us. Thanks!

Option C During a seminary graduation party at our Bishops house I and another youth were both jumping on the trampoline together. He came down as I went up. Enter into his mouth, my bent knee. Seconds later it begins to rain teeth all over the trampoline and my knee has bloody teeth prints all over it. The parents of the youth with the missing teeth tried to sue us and the Bishop for dental expenses. Me and trampolines... not going to ever happen at my house.

Um... where is this happening?

I didn't realize this professor was the definitive voice and judge on who has or hasn't won anything, let alone the "culture wars'. Self appointed voice of the people?? In a different newspaper, Christian conservatives say a Harvard professor is not qualified to give them advice on anything.

On "why" what?

I agree with the above as well, AS LONG AS your girlfriend knows you have a 11 year old porn addiction. If I missed it, I apologize, but she needs to fully understand who she is marrying, just like you should understand the same about her. You are worried about your temple recommend - correct. She in turn should also consider the status of her's too. Civil marriage after my above comment^^

You appear to assume an awful lot about your mother and what she would or wouldn't do over the eternities. I suggest, you have no way of knowing your Mom's choices beyond a shadow of doubt, and at best you are using what could be outdated information at this point. Also, just because a person dies doesn't exclude them from changing their core either. Lastly, like Vort said, include/welcome your step mother. Who she is today may not even be who she is in the future or even who she may become upon her own departure from this life. For all you know both women could in fact become more aligned with each other in thoughts and deeds than you ever could imagine. That of course is only "guessing", the one thing we are trying to avoid.

A couple of thoughts. What you Mother would or wouldn't do, or who she would or wouldn't choose is at best a "guess" on your part right now. In addition the thoughts/understandings/realizations that your mother had while on earth may not be the same as those she currently has in the afterlife. ching, ching...my 2 cents.

Does this mean you are a "cool" Broney?

Our Stake President is in our Ward and stood up after all the nice Mother's Day talks yesterday. He said something like: "We just heard some wonderful talks today. Mothers Day is a nice day, but there are those here that perhaps didn't have a great Mother or perhaps feel that they personally don't measure up to the shining examples shared today in the talks and so they beat themselves up over it. Some Sisters are not mothers and this day is like a knife to their heart. Some Sisters just simply hate Mother's Day, and you know what?... that is just fine. It is okay to hate Mother's Day. Sisters just do the best you can and know the Lord loves you for your efforts." He sat down. It was very nice to hear. We are not a huge Stake. We are not a wealthy Stake. We are however a Stake full of a lot of common sense.

Just in case, since we are the internet and tone gets lost sometimes, I'm not trying to argue with any one especially not with @flameburns623, and my tone is very chill. Okay, here goes... You are correct Blackmarch, Sunday Services are "one brick", however, what about all the other bricks at your disposal. Is a testimony house built on only one brick? 10? 100? or rather 1000s? If you are unable to be edified by one brick, then rely on other bricks instead. If I were in a situation where I was unable to attend my allotted Ward time and lacked spiritual nourishment on Sunday and it was a consistent issue, I might start by: 1. Scheduling a time through the Ward Executive Sec. and setting up a real meeting with my Bishop. Explain my situation to my Bishop in crystal clear terms. "I am unable to attend our Ward because of..., however, I have a testimony and don't want to become lost or overlooked simply because I can't make it to the Ward each Sunday. What options are available to me?" 2. I would look at the other Wards that attend my building. I would attend any other Ward I could for any amount of time that I could. I wouldn't care if anyone said, I should attend my own Ward. If my choice is to attend my Ward or "nothing", well I'd take option 3 and go to another Ward regardless. I would leave my records in my home ward and attend else where. 3. I would look into institute classes offered in my area. We have a local college and they offer institute classes through the week and through out the day. 4. I would ask my Bishop for a calling that was not super demanding on specific times. I live next to a Nuc. Air Force Base, we have brethren always on call. I use them as instructors for High Priest. I always have an extra lesson prepared if they get called away suddenly. Other callings that work at their own pace and schedule, Membership Clerk, Scout Advancement, Bulletin Designer, Building Coordinator, Etc. I would take anything versus nothing. 5. I would associate with other LDS members online in a forum 6. I would watch BYU worship service online for those that can't attend normal services: http://www.byutv.org/show/89883728-9bf8-4d39-b699-cb49bc2a51c6/worship-service 7. Etc. Etc. Etc. One thing I wouldn't do is give up my testimony. Like Pres. Monson said, "May we ever choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong".

While Sunday Services are nice and important, what does that have to do with a testimony? What does that have to do with the Book of Mormon being true, attending the temple on your free days, watching General Conference or other LDS programming on-line at your leisure, reading your Ensign, etc, etc. etc.? Any testimony based on the church being a nice social club or founded in the "people" being nice or not, will never stand up over time.

I'll add some thoughts to @flameburns623 post. The decline in interest towards "organized" religion is not just a Mormon issue. This is a trend that most organized religions in America and Europe are facing right now, this is nothing unique to the LDS church, though it may feel that way some times since we are primarily involved with the affairs of LDS church. Since flameburns referenced books dealing with faith crisis, I'll quote from one: "many places, including western Europe and America, have witnessed steady declines in religious belief, affiliation, and confidence. A number of recent studies have pointed to the rise of the "nones" (category/group) as one of the most significant religious developments in modern America. When asked about their religious affiliation in a survey, these are the people who respond "none". The nones - not to be confused with nuns - are not necessarily agnostics or atheists. In fact, they often describe themselves as "spiritual but not religious". Many report they they still believe in God and retain some kind of personal spiritual practice but at the same time choose not to affiliate with any kind of organized religion." - Planted, P. Mason. Surprisingly the people who consider themselves "religious/spiritual" is increasing, BUT those who go practice it with organized religion is down. Americans used to place high confidence in organized religion. That appears to have declined in the mid 1980s. "A series of scandals" involving televangelist, Catholic sex scandals, religious inspired terrorism have all appeared to add to the decline in the confidence that Americans have in organized religions. Perhaps for some they could add our stance on gay marriage to that list too. So again, Americans actually have a rise in the desire to be spiritual but don't seem to trust in places where they can go to express it... AND this is not unique to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints despite what some people might try to allude to or exaggerate upon.

We just use anteaters at our house for those.

This was happening in our previous Ward except it was happening during the week for Relief Society Enrichment nights. I only know because the Priesthood was tasked as the babysitters so all Sisters could attend RS Enrichment night. Fun times, Gold Fish (the wonder treat) and Disney dvds saved my bacon many times!

From the moment I typed my Handbook 2 response last night, it got the hamster in my head turning in his wheel. This would be a great question for AskGramps.org but might also ask it here: So why do any of you suppose the Church "strongly discourages" these? FP, were you able to find anything out in particular in your personal search? The one overwhelming feeling that I get, right or wrong, is that these procedures may be discouraged because of the financial money making/corporate greed/business manipulating/potential abuse that could/might occur in something that is a sacred power. Thoughts?

Sorry, I wasn't implying you are one of the "active dinner eaters", only that they do exist. They tend to be the first in line after the prayer and have already loaded their plates with 2nds & 3rds, hah!

You can also add the word "clean" next songs on Youtube and find edited songs. Not that it is really relevant any longer, but you used to be able to go to Kmart and buy edited music CDs from most artists.

BINGO! I was beginning to doubt the group's collective skills with Spongebob, great job CL!

Yep we have "active dinner eaters" in our ward. They never come to anything else, but show up for Ward activities with free dinners.