Grunt

I listened to this on my run today and thought of you. https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2018/04/even-as-christ-forgives-you-so-also-do-ye?lang=eng

Thank you for that. There are many aspects of becoming more Christ-like in which I fail miserably. However, choosing not to be offended doesn’t excuse the offender. I’m merely saying sometimes introspection is often enlightening. I too am out the door for my daily long run. Prophet Talks instead of music today. Gene Simmons will have to wait.

This. Membership in the church is cultural, but also individual. Don’t make it complicated. Do you know the Book of Mormon is true? Great. Then you also know that Joseph Smith is the Prophet. Great. Then you ALSO know you need to be baptized and follow the teachings of the church. It’s not just for you. It’s for your family. Right now your House is living without the power of the priesthood. @BeccaKirstyn nailed it. Christ’s message is perfect. We aren’t. Every day I try to be better than I was the day before. I’m still an imperfect man. Many of your posts come off extremely insulting to me. At first I thought it intentional. Now I’m not sure. You point out a lot of flaws you see in our brothers and sisters. Maybe look at your delivery or what you’re putting off? In my past I’ve found that when I wasn’t received as I thought I would be it was because of my own walls or vibes. Just a thought. It sounds as though you have all the pieces of the puzzle. Why haven’t you put them together? My only advice would be to roll up your sleeves and get to work. Be the example to others who may be struggling.

My experience has been almost the opposite of yours in every (2 HA!) ward I've visited (plus stake conference) and every temple I've gone to (6?). From the very first time I stepped foot in my ward I was uplifted by how friendly and outgoing everyone I met was. It was clear they genuinely loved everyone. The children were family to all, and not a distraction but an addition. The talks were personal and from the heart (sure, some are snoozers, but I'm amazed some people get up there and even attempt it because they are so uncomfortable). I love Open Mic Night (fast Sunday). There's always that one "here she goes again", but if you open your heart you see the sincerity in their testimony. I don't get up and share mine, but I love sharing my testimony in person. It was such a crazy ride it can't be denied that God's hand was in it. I've never seen a man that looked defeated, except maybe the cop who sometimes comes after a long night shift. I've seen men pondering and praying but never defeated. It's a time for reverence. After the Sacrament, admittedly, sometimes I'm looking over my 2nd-hour lesson (I teach Gospel Principles) because I never feel like I'm prepared enough. There isn't much interaction during Sacrament or 1st hour because the beginning is reverent for the Sacrament and the rest is respectfully listening to the talks. It's very distracting and disheartening to give a talk and have someone not paying attention. Maybe that is different in other wards, but mine is very respectful. I teach during the second hour, so I'm not sure how that is perceived by others. A lot of long-time members come to my class, so they either enjoy it or are there to make sure I don't mess it up too badly. I have a lot of discussions and tend to go long. This week a Stake Counselor had to come ask me "hey, you want to be ordained or what?. Only much nicer. Priesthood was starting and I was still teaching my class. He wanted me there to be sustained. If you stay in the same class you'll get the same lessons, but honestly every lesson I've ever heard twice left me with something new. The priesthood was sometimes a snoozer with the old format. We had a lot of "hallway third hours", depending on the speaker. With the new format, I really enjoy the third hour. We have some really good discussions. So in a nutshell, it's hard to say why your experience in that ward is different than others. Maybe it's the ward. Maybe it's your perception. Maybe your expectations are too high. We're still mortal men, just trying to make it through this world like everyone else. Just because we have the Priesthood and the gift of the Holy Spirit doesn't mean the weight of the world doesn't get to us now and again. I'm a very outgoing and friendly guy (as those on here who have met me can attest or denounce). Some people just bring out the worst in me, though. I really try to be kind and loving like so many people on this forum are, but often I have an overwhelming desire to punch someone in the throat because of what they're posting. The struggle is real. SO, what do I like most? I love the people. I NEED church to recharge my batteries. It's like a little rail that just puts me on track and gets me through the next week. I walk out of church joyous, uplifted, and excited for what's to come. I strengthen my little beachhead each week and use that strength to capture a little more ground during the week in my quest to be more Christ-like. I love the family. I love doing everything I can from the moment I walk through the door to help the church and everyone in it. It's that one day a week that I can see everyone else and think "yep, I'm on the right path". I love my people and feel refreshed just being in their presence.

Talk to the Bishop. It wasn't hard at all for me to get my limited-use recommend.

Best of luck, @felicityswims . I hope you find the peace you are looking for. I'm sorry you've left the church, but I hope you don't forget your covenants, too.

Don't give up on the Bruins!

It's amazing how what you surround yourself with affects your mindset. After much pondering, I've made some life changes that have had an immediate impact. I don't have cable at home, but I was starting to watch more Netflix than I liked. I was reading less. I was listening to antagonizing political commentary on my ride to work. The world is rough. Lots of people are jerks. Moving my politics to my afternoon ride is much better. Listening to uplifting talks in the morning lifts me up for the day. Reading in the evening after the kids go to bed instead of watching television challenges my thinking. There are so many things I can be doing that are just better for myself and my family. I wonder how I got away from them to begin with. What do you do to feed your soul?

Those are a few of many. I didn't run through the whole list. Only the rule that was relevant here. I'm glad you found the list, though. Good luck with them.

If you'd read the rules you would have. They're located at the top of the page. The mods do give a lot of leeway, but some things are pretty cut and dry.

Not appropriate for this board.

The useful, practical info is exactly what you're ignoring. Why are you letting him still control you? Why are you trying to ruin his life 30 years later? Has he repented? Has he moved on? Christ REQUIRES that we forgive those who sin against us. 3 Nephi 13:14-15 D&C 64:9 So it doesn't matter if he's worthy of forgiveness. Your forgiveness is just as much for you as it is for him. Maybe more so. Look at what it's done to you. Move on. Put it past you.

For better or worse, I'm a "man up" kind of dad. Emotion is fine, but not so much that it displaces action.

I avoid it. I don't lose sleep if it happens, but I try not to. I'm just at a point in my testimony where I don't want to be anywhere near "the line".

Male and female bodies aren't the same. We just aren't going to agree on this because our beliefs are founded in our religion and you don't believe in it. You aren't going to accept our answers, and we aren't going to accept your justifications.

I provided you a link with many follow-up sources. The church explains it far better than I could.

I guess we'll have to wait and see if he tells us.

Some modesty is very easy to judge. Other forms of modesty, not so much. Modesty isn't just what you are, or aren't, wearing. It's also your reasons for wearing it, where it's worn, how you carry it, etc. You can ask a million different people and get a million different answers.

That quote had nothing to do with "women". It has to do with us all as children of God and how we should glorify him, not our mortal selves.

https://www.lds.org/topics/modesty?lang=eng

Nobody said they were. Saints are called to act and dress with modesty. Period. That's all. I'm assuming the OP is Mormon, so I'm merely telling him what the church suggests.

I'm sure it's up to the individual, but standards of modesty exist when we interact with each other, regardless of where we are.

Right now I'm sitting on the living room floor in my underwear. If company comes, I'll put on pants.

Sure. And if God wanted to squelch all disagreement, he'd run a PR firm from Manhattan. That's an "anti" argument. The FACT remains that LDS.org has the answer and only ONE answer.

Here's my usual disclaimer: I know less than nothing. Realizing that I know less than nothing doesn't stop me from running my jello eater. I thought of this one, too. I've been praying for someone who has had no improvement for quite some time. I also pray for various people going through various trials or facing changes. At first, I'd feel guilty if I forgot someone and go back to do it again. After a while, it just became natural to let the Spirit guide my prayer. Sometimes I sit there for a considerable spell naming everyone that comes to mind. Sometimes I only name a few that really come to me strongly. Sometimes I pray for nobody. It has become less mechanical and more inspired. Maybe I've completely missed the boat, but I feel fine with it most of the time.