onyx

Pale!!!

Hi Folks, This is Natalie Gauchi. She has just won Australian Idol for 2007. http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=0OToCjJScRk Onyx

Hi Nate, Nice to meet you. Hope you enjoy the site! Onyx

Hey thanks Josie! There are certainly some changes looming. Onyx

Correct Elphaba: Quote: “Rudd's left-of-centre Labour Party has pledged to withdraw Australia's combat troops from Iraq and sign the Kyoto Protocol on global warming. Rudd has promised to personally represent Australia at a UN climate change meeting of environment ministers next month in Bali to discuss the how to tackle climate change after the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012. On Iraq, Labour will withdraw Australia's small but politically significant contingent of 550 combat troops. But the drawdown will be gradual and conducted in consultation with the Americans, in a manner designed to cause President George W Bush the least embarrassment. Another 1000 military personnel, including navy warships in the Persian Gulf and a diplomatic protection contingent in Baghdad, would remain. The man likely to become Labour's foreign minister offered words of assurance to Washington. "Labour is not calling for a precipitous overnight withdrawal, and we are certainly not going to leave our American mates in the lurch," said Robert McClelland. Further softening the blow for the Americans is Rudd's commitment to maintain Australia's troops in Afghanistan, and perhaps even to increase the numbers.” http://www.sundayherald.com/international/...1857686.0.0.php As for the comparison between the Australian Labour party and the American Liberal party, I cannot comment Elphie because I do not know the platform, intricacies and workings of your Liberal Party. Best I can do is refer you to the ALP website and you can draw your own conclusions: http://www.alp.org.au/ Onyx

Hello to everyone around the globe. Our Federal election has taken place. The previous Liberal goverment has been replaced. We now have a new leader here in Australia - Kevin Rudd. For anyone who is interested in Australian current events, check out these hyperlinks: http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22813...ml?from=mostpop http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22816926-29277,00.html http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22817...5012863,00.html http://www.alp.org.au/ Onyx

I don't think you are terribly far off thread allmosthumble. The OP calls for a ranking according to mainstream Christianity. I refrained from responding because I didn't think I could speak for mainstream christianity. The LDS church is certainly not considered mainstram here in Australia. I could have taken an educated guess I suppose, but I was waiting to read the responses from our mainstream christian friends here on the site. Onyx

Christian, LDS, or Mormon. Have never been called a restorationist. Onyx (p.s you've got two #3's)

Why do you ask Stealth? Onyx

I had a very wise Stake President a few years back who gave me a blessing. During the course of the blessing, he said some surprising things. I remained open-minded throughout however, willing to contemplate these unusual possibilities. At the end of the blessing, he turned to my husband and I and gave us wise counsel. He told us to go away and pray about what had been suggested in the blessing. He cautioned us to receive our own confirmation. We certainly did as he counselled - we prayed and contemplated and prayed. We did not receive confirmation and so did not proceed. Was he wrong in the things he had said in the belssing? I do not believe so; I think he was 'spot' on in fact. The surprising things said in the blessing were never fulfilled. Instead, contemplating and praying about them took us to a place where we considered other pathways. Without the blessing and the things said therein, we would not have gone down the path we did. The blessing served as a catalyst to propel us toward pathways that were not in our mindset at the time. I would go so far as to say that we were locked into certain paradigms that the blessing cleared. Consequently, we contemplated things that we thought were beyond us, all because of the blessing that triggered new possibilities. I know this may seem off topic because the Stake President did not exercise any kind of unrighteous dominion in my view. I share this story to present to you an example of a leader who knew that we are all entitled to our own witness and our own confirmation. This is so with any directive, counsel or advice - pray about it and receive your own witness. Onyx

Hello Kortney, Welcome!! Lovely to have you here. Looking forward to your contributions Onyx

Yes, indeed PC :) Onyx

I have always enjoyed the talks of President Thomas S. Monson. The stories from his life are the ones that have left lasting impressions for me. In this last conference he shared another touching and amazing personal account. http://www.lds.org/conference/talk/display...1-775-8,00.html A long-time friend of mine used to say: "Coincidence is when the Lord wishes to remain anonymous" Onyx

Elphie, Can you help me understand how the USA supports these countries. I am not conversant in US international agreements. Is it a trade relationship? Please enlighten me. Onyx

All the best to you Anthony Onyx

What a hip happenin' couple! That was fun. (The groom was just a tweency eency bit unco') Onyx

I just luurrvvee Nora's music Onyx

Hi looking4afriend, As a 2-3 year old he probably understands the concept of birthdays now. Perhaps emphasising Jesus' birthday would be a good way to go at this stage. Some suggestions: Singing happy birthday to Jesus. Having a Jesus birthday cake. Lots of pictures of baby Jesus around the place. A book about Jesus birth. Having your nativity setting out and talking about baby Jesus' birthday. I used a user friendly nativity setting that my kids could pick up and play with. They could play with the figures, even drool on them if they wanted to. Repetition is an important learning tool for the 2-3 year olds. So doing something from the list above every day will help. For example, reading the story before nap time or bed time every day. Visual tools are also important because at that age they can't read yet. Hence the emphasis on pictures. Songs and simple rhymes are helpful too. They may not sing along but they most certainly are listening. So perhaps choose a simple Jesus song from the children's song book. Sing it each day...repetition being the key. Anyway, hope these suggestions help....I found them helpful with my kids. I was also Nursery Leader in Primary for a while, so they were helpful then too. Onyx

Hi amigoodenough, I feel for your situation, I really do. I experienced something similar when dating my husband. My difficulty was with my mother-in-law. She could not accept me. The reason....I am older than my husband. I was an RM, active LDS, doing all of the right things. But she just could not accept me. She didn't like the older woman/younger man relationship dynamic. They are a very close knit family with an extremely strong matriarchial influence. Yes, my MIL was and is definately "in charge." It was evident to me that she was very protective of her son and didn't want to let him go. Unfortunately she also got her daughter on board which complicated things for me. I had two of them against me. It was difficult and I went through times of great opposition and heartache. The emotional pain was difficult - so I do understand your angst with this. Anyways,....to cut a long story short. We married, it has been 16 years now. Over the years she realised that I was probably the best thing to have happened to her son. (I'm not being boastful - he's the best thing to have happend to me also.) She sees how good we are for each other and the growth that has happened. She has become a close friend and I love her...she feels the same way about me. How did this come about? Gradually.... I have never fought with her, I have never had cross words with her. I have treated her with respect and love. I have made every possible opportunity for her to spend time with her son. She has never had to feel cut off from him just because he married. She came to realise that I truely was a good person. She has seen how respectfully and lovingly I have cared for her son. She more than accepts me now...even confides in me. Yeah...we are good friends. It took a long time to break down those barriers though. It can take some time for a parent to feel at ease with a SIL or DIL. A parent's role is to protect. Sometimes it just takes time for them to see that things are fine. It can take some time for them to resolve their worry and concern. From my own personal experience I would counsel you to honour your girlfriend's parents and show them that their daughter is in good hands. Keep in mind he is LDS - therefore he believes his family is forever. This means that he will be in your life for eternity. It is worth working on the extended family relationship as well as your relationship with your girlfriend. I pray that it turns out for you the way it turned out for me. It will take some work and maybe a great deal of time, but it is worth it....it really is worth it. All the best...Onyx

Hi Tiancum, I am also fascinated by the gift of discernment and I enjoyed reading your questions. What is the gift of discernment to me? Why is it given to us? The best possible way I can articulate that is with a couple of references: http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgne..._&hideNav=1 “…the gift of discernment operates basically in four major ways. First, as we “read under the surface,” discernment helps us detect hidden error and evil in others. Second, and more important, it helps us detect hidden errors and evil in ourselves. Thus the spiritual gift of discernment is not exclusively about discerning other people and situations, but, as President Cannon taught, it is also about discerning things as they really are within us. Third, it helps us find and bring forth the good that may be concealed in others. And fourth, it helps us find and bring forth the good that may be concealed in us." http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgne..._&hideNav=1 "The gift of knowing when spiritual gifts are real and when they are Satan’s imitations is called the gift of discernment. Satan can make things appear to be so true that the only way we can know they are false is to ask our Father in Heaven. We will have an uncertain feeling, not a peaceful feeling, when Satan or his followers imitate the spiritual gifts." Does anyone believe this gift is still around? Is it common? Yes I most certainly do believe this gift is still around and it is more common than we might realise. In fact, it is available to all who pray for it and everyone single one of us could have it if we wanted it: http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgne..._&hideNav=1 "This gift, available to those who pray for it, helps us know the truth and make proper judgments." http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgne..._&hideNav=1 “One of the gifts of the Gospel which the Lord has promised to those who enter into covenant with Him is the gift of discerning of spirits—a gift which is not much thought of by many and probably seldom prayed for; yet it is a gift that is of exceeding value and one that should be enjoyed by every Latter-day Saint." “… Every member in the restored Church of Christ could have this gift if he willed to do so." "It is abundantly clear that presiding priesthood leaders are given the gift of discernment. After enumerating various spiritual gifts, the Lord provides this counsel concerning your bishop or any other presiding priesthood leader: “And unto the bishop of the church, and unto such as God shall appoint and ordain to watch over the church and to be elders unto the church, are to have it given unto them to discern all those gifts lest there shall be any among you professing and yet be not of God.” (D&C 46:27.)" Has any one seen it in action? Yes, I have....in my own life and in the lives of others and not only within the LDS community. I have observed the presence of this and other spiritual gifts in both LDS and non-LDS people. Onyx

Indeed. Particularly seeing as the OP has been completely edited. Onyx

What kind of thing has it made you think about pam? Onyx

Hey April, Yeah, there are some interesting and positive benefits with green tea. The question has come up in this thread 'Is it the same as black tea." This link explains how they are from the same leaf but differ slightly in terms of stage of development: http://www.cancer.org/docroot/ETO/content/...sp?sitearea=ETO This link explains that they both have equal percentages re: caffeine (if that is a concern for you, it is for some folk): http://www.japanesegreenteaonline.com/faq3.htm Is it against the word of wisdom? Certainly a topic for conjecture. I know members who drink it and I know members who won't. I also know that Word of Wisdom references to tea on the lds.org site, in lesson manuals and even in the handbook of instructions simply say "tea." There is no difinitive directive or discrimination with regard to colour (green, white) etc. Onyx :)

Wow mikeb, That was a sudden turnaround. What caused your girlfriend's parents to change their minds? Onyx

Hi MikeB, You ask a few questions here: 1. Are my girlfriends parents crazy? 2. What are we doing wrong? 3. Is it ok for them to be doing this to us? 4. They think we are too serious...why? I'm wondering of you have had the opportunity to sit down and talk with your girlfriend's parents about these questions? They are the only ones who can truely answer your concerns, especially questions 2 and 4. Is it ok for them to be doing this to you guys? Setting boundaries for their 17 year old daughter? Yeah, I think you'll find that as parents of a minor they can legally do that. It might be a pain for you and your girlfriend but parents are allowed to set boundaries. Are they crazy? Can't answer that one for yah. Don't know them at all to be able to make the judgement. Did you think they were quite sane before they set these boundaries? If you thought they were sane before these rules then they are probably not crazy. Perhaps they are just a little bit concerned and reacting accordingly. It sounds like you are both working hard to live the Gospel and to live good lives. I hope it all works out for you guys. Hang in there! Onyx