NeedleinA

Maybe it is low, h-o-w-e-v-e-r it is NOT gone. You are seeking advice and help from other LDS people for starters. Someone with their candle totally out might be off getting drunk to mask their problem instead. Don't give up on yourself! I don't agree with the whole idea that this is some form of punishment or bad timing on your part. I would suggest not connecting or letting others help you connect dots between events that are most likely nothing more than coincidence in timing.
This concern has been brought up several times on the forum. Just like you are chatting remotely with us, you can do the same with a LDS therapist. The internet has made it so that "few and far between" are more like "several and close at hand". LDS therapist do offer video sessions remotely. 

Not a bad idea. Thanks.

Maybe slide a note in the donation envelope that says: "Wink, wink...I donate online only. Not sure the deacon is passing on this message, so here is a friendly little note".

This is actually a very popular idea in many LDS circles. On a doctrinal level, I see no reason to believe it, but it is a romantic thought.
I remember a comic featuring a man looking lovingly down into a bassinet and thinking something like, "Oh pure one, so recently arrived from the premortal realms, what would you tell me if only you could speak?" Then a voice from the bassinet says, "Have you done your home teaching?"
The Wordsworth ode "Intimations of Immortality" is quite popular among Mormons, or at least well-known. I wonder how many have actually read the whole ode and not just quotations of those few lines?

I'm sure I could find more if I took more time. Maybe later....but here's one:
'We define the veil as the border between mortality and eternity; it is also a film of forgetting which covers the memories of earlier experiences. This forgetfulness will be lifted one day, and on that day we will see forever—rather than “through a glass, darkly”'  - Neal A. Maxwell
https://www.lds.org/ensign/1980/10/patience?lang=eng
 
I also found (more Maxwell) as applicable to the OP:
“The veil of forgetfulness of the first estate apparently will not be suddenly, automatically, and totally removed at the time of our temporal death. This veil, a condition of our entire second estate, is associated with and is part of our time of mortal trial, testing, proving, and overcoming by faith—and thus will continue in some key respects into the spirit world. …
“Thus, if not on this side of the veil, then in the spirit world to come, the gospel will be preached to all, including all transgressors, rebels, and rejectors of prophets, along with all those billions who died without a knowledge of the gospel (D&C 138)” (The Promise of Discipleship [2001], 119, 122).

My personal belief is that in general, we won't remember until the resurrection (or thereabouts).  Otherwise, there would be no need to preach the Gospel to the spirits in prison.  I also suspect each of us will remember as we are ready to, that the veil will get thinner and thinner (or thicker and thicker, I suppose) until we are worthy of passing through it.
This goes along with my other suspicion that one of the reasons the veil is needed in order for mortality to work is to determine who is righteous away from God's presence - in other words, his presence is so powerful, that at least some of us will obey for that fact alone.  Only with the veil can we learn for ourselves what we really want, whether we're willing to live the kind of life God lives, no matter what.
All that said, the only thing I can think of from scripture or doctrine is the fact that the Gospel must be preached to the spirits in prison.  From that, I infer all the rest.

I've wondered how it is that so many who should know that we are here on earth to be tried have such a difficult time applying and/or accepting the reality of this.
We are here to be tried to see if we will remain faithful in these trials. We must all take up our crosses and follow Him. Think about what that's actually suggesting.
There's a reason that gospel principles include words like enduring, long-suffering and patience. We talk about long-suffering like it doesn't actually mean suffering and enduring to the end like it means enduring...until it gets too hard.
God asks us to remain faithful to him through trials. That's the test. We will all have trials. Every one. Mortality itself is a trial. It is death. It means death. We are here to die -- both physically and spiritually. We are here to suffer the pains, stresses, difficulties, and temptations of the flesh. That's why we're mortal. In those trials we have two choices that represent the core of our agency -- to remain faithful or to turn away.

Great place to be completely open and share things under the mask of anonymity, I think we all do it to some degree or another. Even though the thread may have taken a turn or curve different than you thought, I hope you are able to find some helpful ideas and thoughts all the same. The thread has only been up for a day, so don't give up hope that someone else might not hit a little closer to home like you had hoped. 
p.s. Also, now that you have found us, we hope you will stick around and share other thoughts and ideas with us. Always a new thread!

I can see how one could draw the conclusion that Kolob is also symbolic of Jesus Christ.  
Out of curiosity, do you have any authoritative source(s) that straight up says:
1. Jesus is in fact Kolob
2. There is no literal star called Kolob
or are we at a personal interpretation level right now?

Regarding the bolded part: I agree, you probably would have received the same blessings had you done it on your own. BUT YOU DIDN'T. That is the point. You obeyed your leader's instruction, and as a result you gained the blessing that instruction offered. If that is not being rewarded for obedience and for sustaining your leader, I don't know what is.

IMO, it doesn't really (usually) work that way.  I can't say that received X as a direct result of Y sustaining-act.  The most specific example I can think of is that last year, our Stake President challenged us to read the scriptures for 30 minutes / day.  I accepted that challenge (which I also consider a form of sustaining my Stake President), and have been blessed with increased spirituality in my life - greater peace, greater understanding and appreciation for the scriptures, things like that.  But I suspect I would have received the same blessings if I had chosen to do it all on my own, without the Stake President ever having made the challenge...  There may be other blessings I'm not (yet) aware of.
I guess my point is that I think blessings like this are like drops in the bucket (or oil lamp, if you want).
Hmm. I'm a terrible singer.  I used to never sing aloud (though the words were in my mind and heart), until I realized the link between raising my hand to the square and singing.  I sing now.  I try to sing quietly, so as not to damage the ears of anyone seated too close to me, but I sing.  And I feel the Spirit more strongly in Sacrament meeting, in particular, which I think is a direct result of making that choice.  I think without that realization of the link between raising my hand to the square and singing, I never would have sung aloud in the meetings.  Again, I think I would receive the same blessings regardless of my motivation, but in this case, my motivation was to sustain, as I was promising to do.

We cannot go both toward the Savior and away from Him at the same time.  And being mortal, we cannot know what would have happened had we chosen the other direction.  What we can know, is that there is only one way, one truth, one life, and that is found through Jesus Christ.  Therefore, we can logically conclude, that no matter how hard life seems while going toward Him, if we continue toward him, the end result will be infinitely better than any alternative.
John 6:67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.
As hard as it may be, there's nowhere else to go.

Similar to Vort's solution to dealing auditory distractions, I have an old Android tablet with a music app on it and a bunch of slow, soothing type hymns and similar music which plays all night long (it randomizes and loops).  The volume is extremely low (I can only hear it after I've settled into bed).  I find that this helps me sleep more soundly than I do without it, and having MoTab sing me lullabies is very soothing.  (Beautiful Savior, by only the men, is something I could listen to a zillion times and not get tired of it... Wait, that can't be right... )
(The only nightmare I ever had was driven away by looking at a small portrait of the Savior - to replace the images from the nightmare - and praying.  So I can't offer any other advice there.)
As for prayer not seeming to do much when you look at it rationally, then look at it more rationally.  Conversation does good, does it not, when the two parties understand each other?  When a child sincerely tells their parent what's going on in their life and asks for help, willing to follow the offered advice and receive the offered assistance, it does good, does it not?  Prayer is no different, except that you can't see the other party, and you have to concentrate really hard to receive the offered answer.  That said, in my experience, it can be very hard to learn to pray and receive guidance or comfort or whatever in response, so you have to keep trying, not just hoping, but believing God is there and will help you.  I have found that the best way for me to have effective prayers is to forget what I want to say, and ask God what I should pray for - and if I'm having a hard time feeling the Spirit, I start with bearing my testimony.  Anyway, from where I sit, there's nothing irrational about it, or any other part of the Gospel (unless you disbelieve in God).

IMO, when I raise my hand to sustain the new ward chorister, I'm saying that I will sing the hymns in Sacrament meeting.  When I sustain the RS Pres, I'm saying I will serve when she asks.  When I sustain my visiting teaching supervisor, I'm saying I'll call and report each month.  Etc.  I think sustaining is a lot more than raising your hand.  It's possible there isn't any more for particular callings (except perhaps praying for them; e.g. if I have no children and am not called to primary, how do I sustain the primary president?); but for many callings, there's some active thing you can do to sustain them.
The blessings from this kind of sustaining seem obvious.  "The song of the righteous...", service brings blessings, obedience brings blessings, etc., etc., etc.

Perfect Vort, thank you!

Sustaining my Church leaders has given me the opportunity to stand up and be counted as one unafraid to risk the contempt of the sophisticati and bear the slings and arrows of those mocking from the great and spacious building.
It has also allowed me to be of service to my fellow Saints, as I try to help my leaders build Zion.

Like LP and others have pointed out, spiritual things don't necessarily come easily or fast. Consider the difference in response one might receive to their prayers simply based on their attitude to said prayers. 
Person 1: Studies the subject, ponders it, fasts over it and then approaches their pray "with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ".
Person 2: Approaches prayer as if it is pointless but for fun is willing to give it a college try. 
A prayer is not simply what we say, it is also our attitude, faith, belief in what we are saying/asking for too. 
(I'm not trying to point fingers, but does this make sense?)

Dedicating a home is for a variety of reasons, not just "ghosts". As it said above, it is for: worship, growing spiritually, family relationships and safety. The steps for dedicating your house were outlined above too. If you or your husband don't feel comfortable doing it alone as a family, invite your home teachers or bishop to come over and help out.
From one of your other posts on the forum: "I'll admit, I'm not well-read on evil spirits as they pertain to doctrine. I am interested in paranormal to a degree ". 
Perhaps, now is a great time to learn what "evil spirits" are OR rather what they are not in terms of the gospel. I don't believe, and the church doesn't teach, the worldly/hollywood view of ghosts/demons/haunting/boogie men/the paranormal. 
A random knocking on your door in an old church/house sounds like the perfect setting to "scare yourself" if you already had inclinations towards the worldly view of the paranormal. I would start with those two suggestions. Read and learn about "spirits" via the gospel and then consider dedicating your home with a belief/faith in that prayer/dedication. 
  
 

First: Truly sorry you having to deal with these concerns and wish you the best.
Second: On a spiritual note. It sounds like even you can clearly admit that spiritual experiences in your life have in fact resulted in positive outcomes regarding your issue/fear. You mentioned finding peace in both a blessing and going through the temple. If those two avenues worked for you before, please don't forget them again. So... my question is this: Even though you are "pretty cynical about the presence of bad spirits", you have taken the time to give it some credibility, "sensitivity to some bad energy or spirits". As LDS we believe in both the good and the bad. Is your anxiety a result of bad spirits, I have no idea. Have you ever dedicated your home?
"Dedicating Homes
Church members may dedicate their homes as sacred edifices where the Holy Spirit can reside and where family members can worship, find safety from the world, grow spiritually, and prepare for eternal family relationships. Homes need not be free of debt to be dedicated. Unlike Church buildings, homes are not consecrated to the Lord. To dedicate a home, a family might gather and offer a prayer that includes the elements mentioned above and other words as the Spirit directs."
This is my first thought/question in perhaps finding some piece of mind.

Thank goodness for this man and following the spirit to use his Priesthood.  So keep yourself worthy to use it.
 
Seconds after a horrible car crash occurred in Ogden, Utah, Danny Paniagua felt he needed to pull over and help. What happened next has quickly gone viral.
On Monday, Paniagua posted a photo of the crash along with his account of giving Jessica Bingham a priesthood blessing after her SUV rolled over six times down I-15 and she was thrown in the air and across the cement barrier.
http://www.ldsdaily.com/world/lds-man-administers-priesthood-blessing-to-car-crash-victim/

No,we do not. We drink water. Catholics drink the blood of Christ.
We "do it in remembrance of the blood of [His] Son". There's a huge difference.
Lehi

Oh, I do use them, every night. And they work great. Perhaps too well; when I use them for weeks on end, it gets very hard to sleep without them.

You might consider a quick edit of your post before someone quotes you!
All love for my MormonGator Brother!

You might consider a quick edit of your post before someone quotes you!
All love for my MormonGator Brother!