NeedleinA

Members
  • Posts

    3389
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    50

Reputation Activity

  1. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to Vort in (Another) teaching in RS question   
    I have served in a couple of leadershippy positions. Discussions in a presidency will often include things like, "How can we help Brother So-and-So teach his lessons more effectively?" [Translation: He's dry as two-day-old toast, but we want him to be successful and not just release him.] Ideas get generated, like e.g. let's really break it down for him and structure the lesson plan out for him. Oh, but he'll get offended if we single him out for such treatment. Well, Brother Thus-and-Such does a great job of teaching, and Brother TheOther does fine. If we send them the same email, they'll probably just go ahead and prepare their normal lesson anyway, so no harm done.
    Could be anything, really. As long as they are not insisting that you do anything different, just keep doing what you've been doing. If you're really worried about it, go have a frank (but delicate) talk with them. Ask them if they are sending you the detailed outlines because they want you to do something different from how you have been doing it. They will probably say no, but if they say yes, take careful note of what they say. Your duty as a teacher is to teach the class and bring the Spirit, but it is also to sustain them. Their duty as a presidency is to see to the instruction of the class. So if they want something done this way or that, you should probably accomodate them, even if it seems a silly or useless request.
    That's my opinion, FWIW.
  2. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to zil in Help please. Doctrine concern & counsel needed...   
    @Carborendum: She wouldn't be the first person to think that maybe limiting her husband's exposure to truth will mean it will go easier on him later.  There are plenty of people who think that way.  Also, she loves her husband and is scared.  That doesn't always help with logical analysis.
    Whoever told her this should be walloped upside the head!
    One thing is certain, they won't be together if she rejects the gospel, regardless of whether he does.  The wise thing is to get as close to the ideal as possible and trust God to take care of the rest.
    While we may not know the details, we do have promises that people who are worthy but who didn't have opportunity in this life will not be denied any blessing in the eternities:
    "The Role of Righteous Women", Spencer W. Kimball, October 1979 General Conference
    "Eternity Lies Before Us", James E. Faust, April 1997 General Conference
    I know there are more recent GC talks saying the same things, I just haven't taken the time to go find them.
    Now, a personal story, in case it might help her (though I don't want to give her false hope, as it doesn't always work out this way): When I got married, my husband was not a member of any church and did not believe in organized religion though he believed in God and to some degree in the Bible.  We talked about this extensively and he made it clear he had no intention of joining the church and didn't want to be "preached" to.  He also made it clear that he would support me fully in my membership in the church and my spiritual life.  He came to church with me every Sunday.  We rarely talked about religious things - only if he brought them up, and that was very rare.
    After about 5 years of this, a mutual friend sat down beside us before church one day and said to my husband (to my surprise and I assume his): "I think it's time for you to be baptized."  I believe my husband's response was something like "maybe".  Then the next week (or so) our friend asked my husband if he was willing to hear the missionary discussions and (still to my surprise) my husband agreed.  He took the discussions and was baptized shortly thereafter.
    It wasn't me the Spirit inspired to bring this up, it was a mutual friend.  (After the initial "maybe" answer, our mutual friend talked to me separately, explained that he'd felt a strong impression to do what he'd done, and asked if I thought he'd made a mistake.  I told him it's never a mistake to do as the Spirit directs.)
    FWIW
  3. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to beefche in Help please. Doctrine concern & counsel needed...   
    I'm so sorry, Sister, that your little birds have expressed such unkind and untrue thoughts to you.
    First, covenants are between the individual and God. So, your first priority is to determine if the Spirit is instructing you that Jesus is our Savior, that this is the true Church, that the Book of Mormon is scripture, and that God leads by prophets today. If so, then you should be baptized to begin your covenants with God and receive a wonderful gift, The Gift of the Holy Ghost. This gift will help you find answers and bring solace to your soul in a deeper sense than you feel now.
    Then, you live the Gospel as best as you can. We don't coerce anyone to join the church. We don't belittle anyone for their beliefs. We don't think of your husband as somehow "lesser" because he is not a member. Teach your children, love and serve your husband.
    God is merciful and fair. We simply don't know if your husband will accept the Gospel in this life or the next. We don't know. What happens to you if your husband chooses to reject the church? Well, first of all, rejecting the church is subjective. Because we are not God, we don't know if rejecting it in this life is the ultimate rejection. We believe that the next life will have opportunities to hear the Gospel, accept or reject it and accept or reject ordinances. But, we don't know what judgment your husband will receive. One of the blessings we have is hope. Hope in Jesus Christ and His atonement. Hold onto that hope for your husband. Treat him with love and respect and don't despair. 
    I truly believe that these fears are unfounded at this time (for anyone). This life is short when we think of eternity. There is so much that we don't know and must trust in the Lord. That is true faith--that God is who He says He is and that He can truly save us and that we can be truly happy in this life.
    Focus on what you do believe/know about God. Focus on becoming closer to Him and serve your family. You can be a tremendous example of God's love to your family. Love your husband, support him, encourage him, serve him, respect him. 
  4. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to LeSellers in Help please. Doctrine concern & counsel needed...   
    She need not worry. We don't have all the answers, yet, but God loves her, and will make her choices work to her best good, even if others' choices might make that difficult. See Mosiah 4:9. 
    There are two separate issues here. First, what will happen to her husband if he does, indeed, reject the Gospel in the Spirit world and what will happen to her.
    Brigham Young once told a sister whose husband had been harsh (we might say abusive) that "the grave is a mellowing place. You will be proud to be associated with him." Methinks that a lot of people who aren't inclined to accept the Gospel, and who even say they won't later, just might be "mellowed" beyond our expectations. I reject her little birds.
    As to whether she would be forced to choose, yes, I believe that to be true. However, and this is critical, nothing she chooses would be coerced, and whatever she chooses would make her happy, happiest even. If she were given the choice of being alone forever, or being John Taylor's 50th wife, I'd see the latter as being preferable. Her mileage might vary.
     
    Lehi
  5. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to omegaseamaster75 in Help please. Doctrine concern & counsel needed...   
    We do not know the doctrine surrounding this. Wild speculation on anyone's part to say something to her at all regarding it.
    She needs to ignore it. If she believes that God is true and just then things will work out in the end.
  6. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to bytebear in Help please. Doctrine concern & counsel needed...   
    We don't know.  There is a lot of speculation.  But what we do know is everyone will end up where they are most happy and joyful.  God knows our hearts and will not have us be uncomfortable situations for eternity. 
  7. Like
    NeedleinA got a reaction from Sunday21 in Why are Americans so miserable?   
    Dang, no audio for me on the video, and my lip reading skills lead me to believe that Americans are miserable because the lines at Disneyland are ridiculous? 
  8. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to rameumptom in Adam & Eve and other Miracles - Symbolic, Literal, or Both?   
    The temple endowment tells us that at least portions of the teaching are symbolilc. That Joseph Smith saw Adam and Eve (DC 137), tells us that they were literally real beings. That said, the story is nuanced, built into an epic event that teaches us about the Creation, Fall and Atonement.
    There are some good books that can enlighten you on the story in Genesis. As we have it now, portions of the book of Genesis were written as early as 900 BC, and includes editing by various groups over the next several centuries. In fact, Genesis 1 and 2, give us two different versions of the Creation. Abraham and the Book of Moses give us stories that are different. Psalms and Isaiah also discuss the Creation, with God bringing order out of chaos (water and darkness). In fact, God defeated Leviathan as part of the Creation, and will fight the sea dragon again at the end of the world, according to the Book of Revelation.  All of it symbolic, while some of it is literally true.
  9. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to Sunday21 in Visiting teaching, what to do?   
    Thank you. So much all of you. I will pray about your advice. Thanks again.
  10. Like
    NeedleinA got a reaction from Sunday21 in Do you have a dream?   
    "How spicy/hot would you like that Sir, 1-10?"
  11. Like
    NeedleinA got a reaction from zil in Visiting teaching, what to do?   
    "I feel that I need to do more". For me personally, this feeling comes from two sources. The first, is the "spirit" prompting me to "do more", OR second, I simply am suffering from "Mormon Guilt"? Mormon Guilt, meaning, the times we beat ourselves up for no reason for not living life at a constant "best" level in every aspect (good, better, best). 
    Some people don't want to be visit/home taught, despite our efforts to try to visit them. There are times when VT/HT is helpful, but there are other times when our "helpfulness" is taken as "pushy/unwanted" and inside they are saying "I'm inactive for a reason, leave me alone already, I don't want to be bothered". 
    VT/HT has successes, but it also has failures when our persistent nagging can actually hurt instead. If she is not returning multiple calls/emails perhaps it is not important to her. If the lottery called her to tell her she had won big money, would she call them back? If the answer is yes, then she has "time", just not time for VT.
    If I were you, I would drop by her house unannounced. I would explain that you would love to be her VT. Say, in softer words, "Because calling and emailing is so hard, can I come by your house on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at 5:00pm (you make up the schedule with her). This is a standing appointment, every month like clockwork. If you can not make the appointment, please call me and reschedule for that month, otherwise I will be standing at your door at 5:00pm like promised."
    This removes the constant calling/emailing. This allows you to honestly gauge from her if you are a "help" or a "pest" to her. If she misses a couple of your appointments without letting you know, well you unfortunately have your answer from her. If phone calls/emails/standing appointment fails, I would stop with the Mormon Guilt. I personally would stop contacting her all together except for one last mailed note. A note that said something like: "Sorry we keep missing each other at our appointments. I would love to be of service to you when you are ready. Here is my phone number when that day comes. Have a great day and may Heavenly Father bless you and your family". 
    This would be the end of my contact with said inactive. When she is ready, she can let me know. Until said day, or the Spirit prompts me otherwise, no more Mormon Guilt. 
  12. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to NeuroTypical in Do you have a dream?   
    Yep - my dream is that my kids turn into capable, moral, adults of faith, and release themselves on a world in which they make a positive contribution.  And that I can live happily married until we croak.
  13. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to Sunday21 in Do you have a dream?   
    Do you have a dream? My dream is to retire within walking distance of a temple and be one of those sisters who practically live in the temple. I drive an elderly lady to church (95!) and I notice that she almost never leaves the house as she does not drive anymore. Buses are rather dangerous as I learned while recovering from a car accident. Many fellow patients had had bus accidents. People fall getting into, while on, walking over snow drifts to get to (big problem in Canada), and when getting off buses. It is especially a problem for the elderly. Thus I want to live within walking distance of a temple. I have about 20 years until retirement so there is time for the church to build a lot more temples! What is your dream?
  14. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to An Investigator in Felling overwhelmed   
    Thanks everyone! 
    I've decided to go back to basics so to speak.. Make sure I'm reading my scriptures and praying etc. And I feel much better already.  x
  15. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to Jane_Doe in Felling overwhelmed   
    Me!!
    I'm naturally a VERY introverted person, who likes to handle things myself and enjoy privacy.  Mormon "can I help you with anything" culture used to drive me crazy!  During my undergrad years, I flat-out resented those offers and the constant socialization opportunities-- why won't people just leave me alone!  I would literally practice trying to be invisible at church, so that I wouldn't have to deal with other people.  When the didn't work, I did ditch church for several months-- to avoid happy smiling faces of people asking how I was and if I needed any help.  Man, that was a mistake.  Yes, personal scripture study and meditation is good, but our community of believers is also essential, and when I isolated myself on an island... it was very much a spiritual drought.  
    My advice is to learn how to say "no, thank you" and not feel bad about declining help when you don't need it and don't resent them for asking.  If you don't want visitors, again "no thank you".  If you're not interested in small talk, decline that as well.   But, on the flip side, learn how to say "yes" when you genuinely do need help.
    Another example from my life.  I got REALLY good at declining help- I manage things on my own.  When my baby was due, I had everything set up at home- zero help needed.  Well, then baby and I got flight-for-life to emergency care in another state, and all my planning was for naught.  I didn't need help in the other state- it was actually my hometown and I was inundated with friends, so I again declined all the help offered from church people.  But when we and baby finally got to go home.... I underestimated the gas required to traverse a -40C blizzard with 120 km/hr winds, and ended up taking refuge in this middle-of-nowhere rest stop, out of gas.  That's a point I really needed help, so for the first time in my life, I did actually call my visiting teacher and said "Could you help me?"
  16. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to tesuji in Felling overwhelmed   
    Dear Investigator,
    I want to commend you for being baptized.
    If you haven't already, you might talk to the bishop, ward mission leader and/or missionaries and tell them you feel "over-loved."
    My advice would be to just carry on. Just like Heavenly Father is real, Satan is also real and he does not want you to be baptized. Always remember the feelings you've had so far from the Holy Spirit, telling you this is all true.
    Life is meant to be a school and a trial. Your faith will be tested. The scriptures talk about enduring the end after you are baptized.
    However, if you continue in the path, and keep seeking the Lord's will for you and trying to do it, you will find great joy and blessings, even though you will certainly have times of difficulty. Daily prayer and daily scripture study are vital, as is going to church every Sunday. These will keep your faith nourished and teach you how to walk the path ahead.
    I wish you the best.
  17. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to Sadliers in Felling overwhelmed   
    "15    ¶ So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. 
    16    He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. 
    17    He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep." (John 21:15-17)
     
    It is a command from Jesus to nourish others in the gospel. Wouldn't it be hard to do that without the fellowshipping?
     
    Once a person has made a commitment to baptism Satan does a full-court press to dissuade them. But it won't just stop at baptism, it will continue for the first little while afterward, too. Might that irritability feeling be a subtle attempt to stop you?
  18. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to Blackmarch in Blessings from Volcanoes in your life?   
    only volcanoes i lived around were dead ones. but hey sure looked nifty. On a geologic scale i'm extremely grateful the earth has them.
  19. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to Sunday21 in Unexpected hobbies   
    Covert acts of kindness. I gave away Tim Hortons cards to harassed administrators for a while. I carried an extra umbrella during rainy season and gave one to the first person I saw who needed one. I am now considering a smiling campaign foe every veiled Muslim woman that I see.
  20. Like
    NeedleinA got a reaction from Blackmarch in Who are your ancestors? Just for fun!   
    Related to the first confederate female spy to be imprisoned. Family members in Tennessee had slaves, learned the gospel, freed their slaves and all of them, freed slaves included all moved to Utah. Family members founded pleasant grove utah. 
  21. Like
    NeedleinA got a reaction from Blackmarch in Unexpected hobbies   
    Sorry. It was for creating color and pattern mutations on ball python's scales using recessive, co-dominant, dominant genes. 
    Felt like mad scientist type stuff.  Hatching eggs was like Christmas, fun times. 
  22. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to NightSG in Unexpected hobbies   
    Bummer. I was hoping you were making cube pythons, icosahedron pythons, maybe even nonahedron pythons.
  23. Like
    NeedleinA got a reaction from Sunday21 in Unexpected hobbies   
    Sorry. It was for creating color and pattern mutations on ball python's scales using recessive, co-dominant, dominant genes. 
    Felt like mad scientist type stuff.  Hatching eggs was like Christmas, fun times. 
  24. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to Vort in Praying to Jesus   
    The temple rites being referenced are not models of prayer, but of divine action. Models of prayer in the temple always represent communication directly with God, not through any intermediaries.
  25. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to Sunday21 in Unexpected hobbies   
    What on earth is a ball python mutation? Is this a snake? Have you seen the Disney movie, Lola and stitch? Are you creating little monsters?