a mustard seed

Another one we sang this Sunday that I completely forgot about! "Did You Think to Pray?" Very lovely and a great message!

I really like that, @Zarahemla thank you for sharing. Sometimes, I get a little harsh with myself or I lose sight of the steps and they seem so large and unattainable. We had branch conference this sunday and the lesson we had from one of our stake leaders in the third block was about perfection. It put it in perspective for me, realizing that 1. it is not unattainable. If only the elites in the gospel were allowed to sit at the table with Christ then it'd be a pretty sparse grouping. He wants us all to be there and through the atonement, we all can be. And 2. that perfection, defined by the scripture, Matthew 5:48, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." is the greek word teleios, meaning "complete", "to reach a distant end", "fully developed", and "finished." Often in talks we hear perfection talked about as a process and honestly, no matter the slips and falls we make, so long as we are moving forward continuously, even slow and steady, that is all that is asked of us. You make a mistake, you pick yourself back up, repent and keep progressing forward. Another talk I really like along a similar hopeful vein is "Am I good enough? Will I make it?" by Elder J. Devn Cornish. So thank you for that! I think it helps to outline what exactly is necessary, because the gospel principles as a list can seem pretty long and daunting, or too high to reach. So when you break it down, and learn exactly what it is you have to do, it becomes easier, for me at least, to make attainable goals. Putting "go to the temple" on my list, from where I'm at now, it feels like every time I curse, or laugh at a rude youtube video, or sing along to a naughty song, or get angry at someone and think they're stupid, that I'll never get there. Breaking it down in these easier concepts helps put it in perspective and helps me feel readily mindful the next time these situations come up.

Welcome Fether!

I agree with mirkwood. Thats a pretty low standard to set - JUST being faithful to wife and family. So trying to justify when its not met is pouring on the wrong side of the glass. I think it is ok, in an imperfect world, to still demand a certain standard of accountability. That being said, theres a quote by one of the authorities in the church, I forget who, that says we shouldn't mistake the wicked as having our best interest at heart just because their goals work for us. The example given was about there not being a lot of advocates of the first amendment if not for the lucrative nature of pornography. It also counseled against trusting these people because evil reviles all righteousness and it will eventually try to destroy it. I think there is "not being judgemental" and then there is sheep lying down with the wolves. The fact of the matter is, Trump has not shown himself to be a good man of upright character and I dont think "he's good enough because I too have sinned" is a good mindset to go into it with.

I love that story by Guy A. Irwin! It appears in one of my manuals and I was impressed by the spirit to read that to my siblings tonight during scripture study to start a discussion about service. I know that this is something I've had a hard time with, doing service unto others but I long to find opportunities for myself to do so. This is also not the first time up to this point in the Book of Mormon that it is mentioned how the wicked are punished because they forgot their poor. The proud rich refuse to think of anyone but themselves, putting themselves before God even. It reminds me of a realization I had this December during the Light the World initiative. I'm not sure if anyone else saw that video introducing the month-long initiative but they showed it to us at least 5 times all December during different meetings and get togethers at church. In it, different people emulate Christ in different acts of service, some small, and some big but each meaningful. It reminded me of the scripture in Matthew 25:40: . Not only do we become like Christ in serving others but they act as an offering to Christ himself as we serve those who are in need and poor. Like a circle it all connects us to Him and to each other. In that way, I am impressed by the message of these different leaders imploring the people to look after their poor or the Lord will see fit to punish them, with war and captivity by other nations.

I watched Suicide Squad. Really did not like that very much. It was like a really long commercial for a better movie. I watched a lot of reviews beforehand and even spoiled myself on a few things in order to try to get myself hyped up for it. Even knowing how many people kept saying how rushed and superficial it is and mentioning all the annoying "teaser" flashbacks, I was still incredibly disappointed by all of that. The villain was not a good match for the team and I did not care about anybody or even like them as "antiheros." It seriously felt like looking at a hummingbird's wings watching this thing: you get the general impression of shape but as soon as you focus on one thing, it's gone and there's something else just as fleeting popping in for a quick second. Worst of all, I hated Leto and Robbie's interpretations of Joker and Harley. I'm not sure if seeing more in depth scenes of them would have helped because literally everything about his Joker was...not Jokerish. I get that he's "trying to make it his own" or whatever but there was nothing there but lower level ghetto thug stereotypes. No derangement, no hilarity, no "murderous psychopathic clown." Don't even get me started on his annoying laugh and the constant pursuit of Harley was a bit confusing as well. Just awful and I will not watch anything else with these actors playing these characters again. Redo, DC. Redo.

The washington D.C. temple is my favorite. It's the one I always think of when temples are brought up. Growing up on the east coast it was also always the one we'd go to for church activities, like YW and YM mutual temple trips.

Welcome to the forum! Also, I wish you luck in finding the answers you seek through this faith. Since Jane already gave you some excellent resources and starting points, I'll just echo that definitely talking to the missionaries and reading the Book of Mormon are the things I'd recommend for anyone interested. It's good to always keep asking questions!

Until you're getting taxed so much that what you're getting paid to work is about what the government would shell out even if you didn't go to work.

I'm so sorry you're going through this Jane Doe. its not fair to be put in such a defensive position by a family member. If she wont even have a conversation and is truly upset about it then I'd personally go the least confrontational route and just go and do what she wanted on sundays when she visits. Honestly what is the harm? Letting her think she's "won"? In addition I'd be praying for teachable moments and for those involved to soften their hearts. I recently experienced something similar while doing scripture study in the evenings with my siblings. once my ex-step dad began taking them on the weekends where we wouldn't be able to read together it became hard to manage a situation where we could do it everyday since hes not a member. It takes a stifling of our own pride to submit to someone else and I'm not saying you are prideful and truthfully I dont know how passionate and antagonistic this woman might be. I just know from my own personal experience wrestling with someone in the household who doesnt believe and causes contention that there are things I can sacrifice as a service to them to keep the peace and show love...even if that is not entirely what I am feeling in the situation. ^^;

I really like @Backroads mention of the war on families as well because it accounts for everybody in society no matter what your race or ideology. I don't think it's wrong to say we're all a part of the problem when we live in a society that encourages abortions and absentee parents(whether they're in jail or just using the nanny to raise their kids while they work). Everything from pop culture to government policies have worn away at the family unit. I'd go a step further and say there's also a strict absence of God in this culture as well, reviled and even made fun of or considered too stuffy or high brow to raise kids in a home that worships. I've even read the argument that raising kids with religion is tantamount to child-abuse, that's how bad our culture has gotten. Giving them something to believe in and a foundation to grow upon is considered encouraging "delusion." Meanwhile, they grow up without it and they fill their hearts with hate and anger instead and we hear about them on the news.

That's alright go ahead and list any contemporary stuff you like as well. I'm a little embarrassed to say that the most contemporary I know of is some Sonicflood songs that I heard from a christian CD commercial back in the 90's. XD lol if you have anything more current to share I'd like to hear them.

Instead of praying for others to repent, might it not be better to pray and ask for the Lord to soften their hearts? Isn't that what repentance is after all? Submitting to the Lord's will above your own and it takes that contrite spirit and broken heart. There's no guarantee that a prayer will be answered the way we want it to; Heavenly Father will always have things occur in the ultimate best interests of each of us individually and Donald Trump himself as well. So, I don't see it as a "free will" question. I can pray for someone to soften their hearts all I want but if they choose not to, and reject the spirit, then I feel pretty safe in saying that God's plan accounts for that and He hasn't forgotten me personally and where my heart is. If that means Trump does not soften his heart or repent of his sins because these trials were foretold too and are supposed to be a grand softening of all of our hearts, an effort to turn back to the Lord on a national scale, then so be it. I've found very often, when I pray for those who are hurting me or causing me trouble to stop, for the Lord to influence them, very often it is myself who needs a softened heart, to turn to Him with all my trust and will. Because no matter what Donald Trump chooses to do for good or ill, I will need the Lord beside me and that is often what the trial was for, right?

I gotcha. XD Then probably not a good buy then, at least not until I can view it again in some other way. Funny how some movies are like that; they really wow you when you were younger but then turn out to be completely different when you're an adult. I think it must have been that at the time I was really passionate about the church and it was so unique to go see a Book of Mormon movie on the big screen when I was so used to main stream movies being of a different quality, value-wise.

I wish my last boss understood that was the decree I was making whenever it snowed too heavy! Turns out "my bed needs me" is also not a good excuse for calling off on a snowy day. Sorry Eowyn that you've got so much snow! Here in Susquehanna PA we've had a fairly consistent winter the last 2 years. Normally right around now, Mother Nature is trying to decide whether she wants to commit to spring or still flirt a little. We have a fairly good system, although I live on a country road, so, the plows don't always get to us as soon as everybody else. Thank heavens for freelance! I don't have to worry about getting anywhere on time anymore! Also, a lot of times around here, the weather predictions end up being way more dire than the actual event, so, hopefully if you gotta prepare, that it ends up not being all that bad.

Thank you for sharing this! I was really overwhelmed while listening to it and I think it may be a new favorite of mine!

Sorry, I spoke too soon. When I was checking the wikipedia page there was a link at the bottom that said it was on Youtube. Checking it now, it seems to have been removed.

Ah, yes! I remember Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy! Wonderful song! I think I Need Thee Every Hour is another one I like too. I've never heard Lead, Kindly Light or Spirit of God before but they're beautiful!

Yeah, the one made in 2003 about the first two books of the Book of Mormon. Hm, I see. What did you think was bad about it? The acting? It's available on Youtube. I might give it a rewatch before purchasing then, because I was uncertain about the 11% on Rotten Tomatoes too.

Does anyone else remember this film? I remember back when I was in Young Women's, as a mutual activity, we went to a theater to see this film. It was a small, old-timey theater and some church authorities got up and stood in front on the stage and told us about the inspirations for making the film and the experiences the cast and crew had while creating it. I was contemplating buying it but I don't remember much except that it was very long and I came away from it feeling like it was really cool and amazing. Then again, I was 15 or 16 at the time. Have you seen it? What did you think? Is it worth purchasing?

Hey, so, coming back to church has been an exciting venture in many respects but especially with the re-acquisition of music I remember I used to love. I'm trying to accumulate a playlist for myself of the songs that I remember liking and really enjoy now. "Love One Another" "I Stand All Amazed" "Because I Have Been Given Much" "Scripture Power" "How Great Thou Art" "Army of Helaman" "Gethsemane" "A Child's Prayer" "Born is the Light of the World" "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" "He Sent His Son" "Lord, I Would Follow Thee" "Teach Me To Walk in the Light" "Keep the Commandments" "If the Savior Stood Beside Me" I go to the Susquehanna Branch and Priesthood Restoration Site for church and the past 2 years(I think; could be longer), the sister missionaries who were called to serve there all happened to be musically inclined and musically trained. So, very often, on Sundays, or for firesides and holidays, the 10-12 sisters would sing music for the congregation. I got to enjoy this in the 4 months I've been back, so, a couple of these might not necessarily be hymns. But you can kind of sense a trend in my tastes. Very upbeat or very deep lyrics. Some of these songs tend to be a lot of people's favorites. I wanted to find more through suggestions by people or to just talk about music in church in general. What are your favorite church songs? They can be hymns, primary songs, lds created songs, old music, newer music, anything! Edit: Adding to my list: "Be Still My Soul" "Did You Think To Pray" "There's Sunshine In My Soul" "I Love to See the Temple" "Book of Mormon Stories" "As I Search the Holy Scriptures" "Called to Serve" "How Firm a Foundation"

I really like this perspective a lot! Thank you for sharing it! <3 Because that really is the crux of it, isn't it? It's not like I'm sitting here waiting and ready all the time and God shuffles these things in front of me like, "I think you're ready for this/in need of this at this moment." Even the process of conversion is always ongoing, a transformation of our perspectives and spirits, evolving and building faith upon itself. The personal revelations we receive and opportune words of guidance from the Lord is a result of our own changes, like sunglasses with layers and layers of tinted glass being removed one by one, clearing our vision. Even the answers to prayer are sometimes given for our willingness to ask and turn to Him, which is a humbling of the self, a willingness to listen. Sorry, I'm just really excited because this too has changed my perspective. Realizing that the responsibility lies with us always and that the answers are always within reach when we are open to receiving them.

How scary that moral code would be to rely entirely on ourselves for guidance and understanding. I also wonder what Isaiah must have thought, having visions of our time. At first, I thought he might be surprised by how twisted and deceitful sin has become, but if the scriptures he wrote also had application to the people in his time...then maybe not. He might have been saddened to know that people in future generations would also and again and again try to romanticize sin, to erroneously trust their own judgements above the Lord's.

Sometimes, very often actually, I feel like the Lord puts before me conversations, talks, and testimonies and even scriptures that I needed to hear at that exact moment. I was just thinking this morning about my role as the Lord's servant and what I'd be willing to do. I even said, "but not children, and not marriage ever again," thinking that I could satisfy my call to service of Him in some other way and it'd be good enough. Actually thinking that children would get in the way of my ability to serve Him and the prospects of romance and marriage acting as a "distraction" to all I hope to achieve. And not half an hour later, I read this, like the Lord reminding me, "No. Everything. You have to be willing to give everything to me." Even if he may not ever ask me to be a mother and wife, teaching a family and raising them in righteousness, I have to be open and willing to serve Him in this way.

Thank you for this inclusion. My study guides were really confusing trying to hint at some deeper connection with the incense and how prayer works but I did not get it. Another one said that it represented the presence of the Lord but that's all it said. This makes the imagery a lot clearer for me, the connection between being purified by fire and "smoke" in the temple.