zil

I will continue to state that I do not like the Windows 10 operating system.  I'm still running with Windows 7 and Linux Mint version 18 and I will do everything in my power to not load Windows 10 onto my desktop computers.  😁

'Nam Xmas? No, 'twas OK. (O! Saw tons! Am X-man!)

That was Craig Daniels, the neighbor's son. And I thanked him kindly.

Are you sure?  Do you know who took the trash out for you last time?  You sure that wasn't Danny-boy?

This may be shocking to some, but Daniel Craig doesn't really do anything for me.

Not only do we all agree with @pam, the Church handbook agrees with Pam.  Your family comes first, no matter what your calling.  Do whatever you're guided to do by the Spirit and let the Lord worry about the rest.

I agree with Pam.
 
As far as your son is concerned... both my sons have close friends that are not members and not living member standards.  We're fine with it.  My measuring stick is how my sons react to them - are they leading them, or are they following them.  If they are leading them - then that's great.  It is quite possible that my sons are the only good influences they have in their lives and removing my sons from their circle would snuff out that one light in that dark tunnel.  If my sons (they are 16 and 18) are following them then moving my sons away from them without their choosing to do so is not going to solve the problem in my opinion.  I need to strengthen my sons.  My sons will need to learn to choose wisely, live in the world but not of the world, and bring people to Christ instead of them being led away from Christ.  Of course, if it's too late and things are spiraling out of control, then removing my sons from the situation would become necessary and it really wouldn't matter what calling we have at church.  The spiritual and physical safety of our children is the highest priority. 

It would be expensive in the 1990's but the tech was present.  The amount they take off my taxes can afford you that piece of tech in 1990 (except I wasn't in the US to be taxed then...).
 

The amount of taxes they take off my paycheck... they should be able to afford you rear cameras and all around sensors.

Plus Daniel Craig!  Who could complain.

Soooooo corny, you can't help but laugh out loud. You crack me up @mordorbund

That car was.....
..... Licensed to THRILL
 
 

You'd be surprised (apparently) just how much control you have over whether or not other drivers can harm you.  Go take an anti-terrorist driving class (no idea where you find such a thing - I got mine for free while working as a driver for a company contracted to the US Department of State at the US Embassy in Moscow, Russia).  Most people won't like this claim, but in the vast majority of cases, you can control whether or not you get hit by an idiot.  It requires far more education than most people get, and far more attention and awareness than most people are willing to give while driving.
And anyway, it's a lot of fun - you get to throw a car around in ways you didn't know you could throw a car around.  (Make sure it's not your car - wear and tear during the class / practice is hard.)

Yes.  You can't control other people.  But you can control how you react to it.  Your reaction to it is limited if you're just a passenger in the car instead of the driver.  Being the passenger, you are completely reliant on the ability of the driver to take you out of danger.
 
So... because you don't feel safe anywhere, you're going to... leave the responsibility of your protection to somebody else?
And... because a CONCEALED firearm scares you, you're going to make other people who prefer to take the responsibility of their safety upon themselves and make them rely on other people (of course, not you) for their protection?
It's really easy to resolve the issue.  If you're scared of firearms, go to the gun range and fire a few rounds.

Hooo-boy.  Comments like this raise my hackles a bit.  If being in possession of a firearm helps you "feel safe", you might want to do some serious self-reflection about why you carry.  Firearms aren't magic talismans, they don't ward off evil.  They are not like strong gates and heavy doors with good locks, they don't keep bad guys away.
If you want to "feel safe", spend 95% of your effort trying to not be around dangerous folks in the first place, deterring, avoiding, evading unsafe people and situations.  Spend the last 5% preparing to respond should the unsafe events show up.
Firearms are tools which let you respond to deadly situations that found you, despite your best efforts.  I don't feel more or less safe with or without a gun.  I am better equipped to respond to certain extreme unsafe situations with a firearm.
You resolve it by considering the nature of feelings, and learning how to be mature enough to know what they're good for, and what they're not good for.  Feeling safe or unsafe may or may not have the slightest thing to do with whether you are actually safe or unsafe.
I like asking a question: Depending on your state's conceal carry laws, you are constantly surrounded by armed citizens.  A certain number out of every 100 random citizens you meet in any given day, are armed.  At gas stations, supermarkets, parks and streets, restaurants, businesses, many hospitals and government buildings and in churches.   And it's been that way for decades.  Here in Colorado, over 10% of CO citizens have a conceal carry permit.   My questions:  If this is news to you, did your feelings on safety change?  If yes, then why are you putting so much emphasis on your feelings, since just becoming aware of something that has existed for a long time changes them?  Isn't it better to think in terms of facts and probabilities and likelihoods and whatnot?

1) When one goes from having 100% of their time used up in good work to having all their time free, it creates a void.  The available opportunities can seem unworthy (by comparison), leading one to doing nothing, which creates unhappiness while at the same time being addictive.  He needs good things to do - or even "not bad" things, so he doesn't get in the habit of emptiness and idleness.
2) If something bad did happen, he needs to feel safe before he'll be able to reveal it to you (or someone) and work through it.  You need to figure out how to help him feel safe, like he's loved and accepted no matter what.
IMO, going from mission to never attending church is indicative of a problem.  Withdrawing from family is indicative of a problem (unless said family are already dysfunctional or he feels it's not safe to open up to them).  This casts doubt on his reasons for extending his mission - was it to stay for a wrong reason?  Was it to avoid coming home to a situation that makes him uncomfortable?  Or....?
I'd say some honest and loving conversations are in order where you or his father or someone else he trusts mostly just listens.

Pure would love the light, not hide in the dark (encrypted files), not forbid disclosure to the Bishop.  IMO, it is this "keeping secret" business that is the red flag - I cannot find a way to believe innocence so long as encryption and "no one else must ever know" are in play.

Fine, as long as it's Martinelli's and I get to dine too.

How are you with wining?  (Just checkin'.)

1) When one goes from having 100% of their time used up in good work to having all their time free, it creates a void.  The available opportunities can seem unworthy (by comparison), leading one to doing nothing, which creates unhappiness while at the same time being addictive.  He needs good things to do - or even "not bad" things, so he doesn't get in the habit of emptiness and idleness.
2) If something bad did happen, he needs to feel safe before he'll be able to reveal it to you (or someone) and work through it.  You need to figure out how to help him feel safe, like he's loved and accepted no matter what.
IMO, going from mission to never attending church is indicative of a problem.  Withdrawing from family is indicative of a problem (unless said family are already dysfunctional or he feels it's not safe to open up to them).  This casts doubt on his reasons for extending his mission - was it to stay for a wrong reason?  Was it to avoid coming home to a situation that makes him uncomfortable?  Or....?
I'd say some honest and loving conversations are in order where you or his father or someone else he trusts mostly just listens.

1) When one goes from having 100% of their time used up in good work to having all their time free, it creates a void.  The available opportunities can seem unworthy (by comparison), leading one to doing nothing, which creates unhappiness while at the same time being addictive.  He needs good things to do - or even "not bad" things, so he doesn't get in the habit of emptiness and idleness.
2) If something bad did happen, he needs to feel safe before he'll be able to reveal it to you (or someone) and work through it.  You need to figure out how to help him feel safe, like he's loved and accepted no matter what.
IMO, going from mission to never attending church is indicative of a problem.  Withdrawing from family is indicative of a problem (unless said family are already dysfunctional or he feels it's not safe to open up to them).  This casts doubt on his reasons for extending his mission - was it to stay for a wrong reason?  Was it to avoid coming home to a situation that makes him uncomfortable?  Or....?
I'd say some honest and loving conversations are in order where you or his father or someone else he trusts mostly just listens.

I have no idea, but I don't think going behind his back is a good way to earn trust.  But @Jane_Doe and @MormonGator probably know better than I.
Honestly, I have no experience here, except, I suppose, from his point of view - I have no children, nor experience with anyone else's.  I just know that when I withdraw, delay or stop good things (like starting college or attending church), feel emotionally exhausted and just want to hide in isolation 24x7, it means I feel crappy about who and what I am or like I have nowhere to belong, and don't feel like I can trust the people from whom I am withdrawing enough to tell them the truth of what's bothering me.  You have to find a way to help him feel like he belongs, regardless of anything he did, anything anyone else did, what he thinks or says - he needs to belong, to feel safe.
And yeah, depending on the source of all this, he may need a professional to help him through it - whether that pro is a therapist of some sort or a priesthood leader probably depends on details we don't know.

Q: Though very limited, how were his 4x emails toward the end of his mission? Upbeat & positive? Depressed & negative? I would imagine if you were to go back and reread those 4x emails, you may be surprised at what you might notice now.
Q: What reason did he give for extending his mission?
Q: May seem odd, but did he ever make mention of a 'special' girl OR 'extra special' family on his mission?

From what little fanfic I've read, it stinks - as in, the writing stinks.  Sometimes someone has a good story idea, but the execution is awful.

So next Christmas / birthday, you won't be getting her one of these? https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RX1CCS2/