[Hell has frozen over]

I would disagree somewhat @Fether. Just look at the obesity epidemic in the United States. Sugar can be just as addicting as caffeine, and can have severe long term consequences as well. Both require us to be moderate in our consumption. Neither of these substances are specifically banned by the Word of Wisdom, so it quite clearly falls under the provision of moderation in all things. 

[The Book of Mormon as a historical text and why it does matter.]

I agree, denying that the events in the Book of Mormon occured would be tantamount to claiming to be a Christian but denying the miracles of Christ. While I'm sure there are some misguided souls out there who believe that, maybe some of them are just making a statement that the Book of Mormon is primarily a record of spiritual events rather than a historical record. Mormon always spends more time discussing spiritual issues than historical events, as directed by God, so maybe that's what some of them mean?

[Hell has frozen over]

Eh it's not that big of a deal. BYU sells ice cream, candy, and unhealthy meals too. Caffeinated soft drinks aren't good for you, but it's just another sweet treat, it's never been a big deal doctrinally. Moderation in all things is still a teaching we can apply here.

[Hell has frozen over]

Hey they just wanted to make sure everyone was partaking in a safe place where they can be protected, rather than somewhere on the streets?

[What is a good way to start a conversation with a girl in my singles ward?]

I was rather unsuccessful with the ladies myself (pretty much a crippling fear of rejection made dating an immense chore for me). When I finally worked up the courage to ask my future wife out, I did it in the most wishy, washy manner imaginable. I said, in an email, something along the lines of "If you aren't busy sometime, and if you are I don't blame you and I completely understand, maybe you would like to see a movie sometime...etc". She actually had to ask her brother and check if I was asking her out on a date or not, and was not just asking her if she likes going to movies lol. Fortunately, she was happy once she deciphered my intent, and she likes to tease me about it now, but if a girl senses your kindness and sincerity she really won't care about how you asked, she just will be happy you did☺.

[I’m an RM but Commited Sexual Sin prior to my mission]

Hi @hereiam it's good to hear from you. As others have said run, don't walk to your bishop's office. One of the greatest lies Satan tells us is that repentance is harder than hiding your sin. Don't listen to that nonsense! Depending on the severity of your sin, you may have to face some form of church discipline but the instant you talk to your bishop, you will feel an immense level of relief. Nothing you do while repenting will equal the pain and fear you've felt trying to hide your sin. The very moment you speak to your Bishop, the Savior's Atoning power will begin working for you, to cleanse you of your sin. No matter what you have to go through, Jesus Christ will be with you every step of the way, and you will find the peace the Lord promises in Isaiah 1:18 "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool". 

[Moses 7:4 and Ether 3:15]

I actually have thought about this myself, although I was thinking more of Adam and Eve. Borh of them walked and talked with God, our Eternal Father, and Jesus Christ long before the brother of Jared and I can think of several other instances, including Enoch, where God was physically in front of the ancient prophets. My thoughts on the matter are that the Lord is refering to man after the flood. I'm not aware of another man, post flood, who we are told spoke face to face with God before Moriancumr. 

[LDSLiving: One Gay Man's Powerful Journey Away From the Church and Back Again]

I appreciated the article, as I have many of the similar ones posted here recently, because it shows that you can repent of serious sins even when you have been entrenched in their practice for a very long time. While I appreciate the message on familial love and the efforts the Christofferson family went too, to love their wayward son, the true beauty for me was when he rejected everything to come back into the gospel of Jesus Christ. He rejected the World's teachings and the feelings of his partner and decades of poor personal decisions to become clean again through Christ's Atonement. I feel like the Church is demonstrating that you can reject even the most insidious of inner desires, in an effort to reach out to people who may have considered themselves lost long ago due to their participation in homosexual activity. While I may quibble with some of the words Brother Christofferson used to describe his journey, I feel as the father of the prodigal son when he told the faithful brother in Luke 15:32 "It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found." Brother Christofferson was dead but now is alive again and found and to me that is reason to celebrate.

[a TEST is coming]

Interesting question, and I think there have been a lot of good answers. I'm going to keep mine simple pride. The pride of thinking we know better than the church. I've seen it in multiple guises, but generally it manifests itself in ark steadying. Especially by members who pretend they are doing ok. I don't think the test comes from open apostates like Kate Kelly. I think it comes from members inside the church who pretend to be members in good standing but never miss a beat in criticizing President Monson and the 12 Apostles about how they are handling major issues, and insidiously imply by their comments that they don't really believe they are prophets and apostles. That is the test I'm most concerned about for the Saints, and I hope we choose to cling to our Savior rather than lean on our own understanding when we have doubts about church decisions.

[Looking for advice, not judgement]

By the way I really do wish you the best @In Idaho. Sometimes I believe it's difficult to share emotions over the internet. I want you and your husband to be right with the Lord. I'm not judging you, I'm trying to help you the same way the Lord helped me. Don't allow yourself to say "because my husband sinned greatly too my own sin isn't as bad".  Remember Alma's advice to his erring son Corianton in Alma 39:4 in reference to him sleeping with Isabel "Yea, she did steal away the hearts of many; but this was no excuse for thee, my son. Thou shouldst have tended to the ministry wherewith thou wast entrusted" Until you admit to yourself the depth of your own sin, you will not be able to repent. Don't try to soften the blow to youurself it will do nothing but hinder your own repentance. Your husband has sinned too. He is in sore need of repentance as well, but you can't make him do that. You can get yourself right with God, and I am proud of you for going to the Bishop quickly. That tells me you want forgiveness. Do so, don't excuse your culpability, and Christ will forgive you and help you know what to do with your marriage, something I can't give you. I know you can do it Sister.☺

[Looking for advice, not judgement]

@Vort you're correct, physical adultery is worse than pornography abuse. Both will keep them out of the Celestial Kingdom, which is why I said equally bad, but I should have been clearer as I want them both to repent and be cleansed by Christ's Atonement.

[Gender neutral prayers?]

Not quite that bad, but that kind of stuff does annoy me☺

[Gender neutral prayers?]

Yeah, since it was obviously agenda based hopefully church leadership will pull him aside and explain how to properly pray privately. I don't quite understand how he could think the church's stand against homosexual behaivor is policy instead of doctrine, denial is a powerful motivator I suppose, but God is clearly our Father. Refusing to aknowledge that, or trying to take away from that with some wishy washy gender neutral pronoun is borderline blasphemous since he obviously knows better.

[Looking for advice, not judgement]

I'm sorry you are in such a difficult position @In Idaho. You've been in a rough situation for some time, and I'm sorry you're husband has struggled with pornography addiction and in that regard you have a right to feel unhappy. But as you know you've done something especially wrong in response. Adultery is never justified. You know that and I'm glad too hear you are working on getting it fixed. Don't give yourself an excuse to soften the blow, as absolute truth is the only path to repentance and forgiveness. For what it's worth, as I am only a random person on the internet and I don't know you or your husband personally, here are my thoughts. 

1. First don't panic about speaking to the bishop. You will feel a thousand percent better the moment you talk to him. You may very well face church discipline and only your bishop will be able to tell you the consequences of your sin, but whatever it is, whether it's informal probation, excommunication, or anything in between it will always feel better to be walking the road to independence from sin through the grace of Christ. Also, as you've indicated you will do, you have to be honest with your husband. 

2. I can't tell you what you should do with your marriage. It's obviously in a bad place right now and I don't know you personally. But it sounds like your husband has been trying to get better from your description. He told you about his pornography problem before you were married, did he continue to let you know when he struggled or was he constantly trying to hide things from you? If he has been honest with you and trying, my advice is to keep working with him. That means, to me, that he has been talking to his bishop, working with addiction recovery services, willingly installing monitoring software on his computer etc. Sometimes it takes years to overcome this sin, I know it did for me, but it can be overcome completely if he truly trusts Jesus Christ and is doing everything he can. If he's not that's a serious problem and you will have to consider marriage counselling.

You've both committed serious sins, but forgiveness is available to you both. Don't give up! Christ's promises of forgiveness and strength are real and he can heal both of you fully.

[Gender neutral prayers?]

Agreed @SpiritDragon that would be incorrect and I would have felt uncomfortable too, unless it was a new convert or investigator who might not have known better. The Savior taught us to direct our prayers to our Father in Heaven in the Bible in Mathew 6:9 and in the Book of Mormon in 3 Nephi 18:19. Our prayers should be addressed to God with some variation of Heavenly Father and it should never be gender neutral, especially in this day and age where that seems to be a major struggle everywhere.

[Old Testament Accounts that I do not believe happened]

I believe Job is the story of a real man. Otherwise, I don't believe the Lord would have used it in D and C 121:10 when talking to Joseph Smith about the blessings he still has when he is in Liberty Jail. It would be rather unfair of the Lord to compare Joseph's suffering to a fictional man, and so I believe the story is more or less true. I do believe it is a very metaphorical way of discussing an event (Satan and God don't make wagers with each other) which fits the Jews ancient eastern thought processes a lot more than our literal 21st century ones. And while I believe the other stories as well, I think our discomfort with some of the stories can be helped by remembering these 3 things.

1. I already mentioned this earlier but cultural differences with the ancient Israelites make it exceedingly difficult for us to understand some of their teaching methods. 

2. We hold it as an article of faith that the Bible is correct as far as it is translated correctly. There are places where large chunks of the story are missing or have been misinterpreted and copied incorrectly for generations. This would lead to obvious confusion. The Lord told us when the Bible came forth from the Jews it was clear and perfect (1 Nephi 13:23-26) but parts of it have been corrupted by evil and designing men.

3. I figure if God can make the universe from formless matter he can make a donkey talk, or keep a guy alive in a great fish, or cause the Earth to stand still☺.

Interesting topic discussion.

[Backed into a corner because of Church calling]

You truly have my compassion brother. The trial you have carried is a heavy one, and it warms my heart to know both how hard you have tried and that your wife loves you so much. If I could hug you in person I would. Sometimes it's hard to communicate feelings in an online post, but I've never once doubted your sincerity in trying to fix something you don't know how too. I know the Spirirt frequently speaks to me in flashes of inspiritation as much as anything else, perhaps that is how He can speak to you too since you do not feel His presence in other ways. Keep trying brother. I don't know how, but I do know that the God who created the universe can find a way to make himself known to you. I also know He loves you for the effort you have put in of that I have no doubt. Just don't quit my friend. Enduring to the end is hard for everyone, but it sounds like it may especially be so for you. Just remember, even if you can no more than desire to believe, the Lord can work with that. Regardless @Scott know I have nothing but love and admiration for you and consider you a brother, not a lost or evil person. Thank you for willingly sharing your troubles with us.

[TV shows in the last 5-10 years]

Designated Survivor, Timeless, Master Chef, Chopped, Cutthroat Kitchen

[Backed into a corner because of Church calling]

It's ok @ScottI don't mind genuine questions of faith, and you can't shake my testimony so no worries☺. As I said though I disagree with your analysis of the JST and of the scriptures in question, that doesn't matter. I'm not the one struggling with my faith, and this is important to you that's what matters about this particular question. That's why I encourage you to find Christ. In my experience, all doubts concerning our faith ultimately lead back to whether or not we truly know him. If we do we find answers to these questions. If we don't, nothing I could ever say to you will resolve them. Seek him brother. It will take time and effort but you can find  him again. Only a personal relationship with Him will resolve your doubts. My best wishes are with you my friend.

[Backed into a corner because of Church calling]

14 minutes ago, Midwest LDS said:

 

Incidentally, in case you are interested there is an explanation about Jephthah in the Old Testament study guide you may find interesting. It's a long text, but it answered questions I had about that same text. I know that isn't going to erase your concerns, but I think it's helpful nonetheless. 

"Jephthah was compelled by his vow to dedicate his daughter to Jehovah in a lifelong virginity. … The entreaty of the daughter, that he would grant her two months’ time, in order that she might lament her virginity upon the mountains with her friends, would have been marvellously out of keeping with the account that she was to be put to death as a sacrifice. To mourn one’s virginity does not mean to mourn because one has to die a virgin, but because one has to live and remain a virgin. But even if we were to assume that mourning her virginity was equivalent to mourning on account of her youth. … ‘it would be impossible to understand why this should take place upon the mountains. It would be altogether opposed to human nature, that a child who had so soon to die should make use of a temporary respite to forsake her father altogether. It would no doubt be a reasonable thing that she should ask permission to enjoy life for two months longer before she was put to death; but that she should only think of bewailing her virginity, when a sacrificial death was in prospect, which would rob her father of his only child, would be contrary to all the ordinary feelings of the human heart. Yet, inasmuch as the history lays special emphasis upon her bewailing her virginity, this must have stood in some peculiar relation to the nature of the vow. …’ (P. Cassel, p. 473). And this is confirmed by the expression, to bewail her virginity ‘upon the mountains.’‘If life had been in question, the same tears might have been shed at home. But her lamentations were devoted to her virginity, and such lamentations could not be uttered in the town, and in the presence of men. Modesty required the solitude of the mountains for these. …’ (P. Cassel, p. 476). And so, again, the still further clause in the account of the fulfilment of the vow, ‘and she knew no man,’ is not in harmony with the assumption of a sacrificial death. This clause would add nothing to the description in that case, since it was already known that she was a virgin. The words only gain their proper sense if we connect them with the previous clause, he ‘did with her according to the vow which he had vowed,’ and understand them as describing what the daughter did in fulfilment of the vow. The father fulfilled his vow upon her, and she knew no man; i.e. he fulfilled the vow through the fact that she knew no man, but dedicated her life to the Lord, as a spiritual burnt-offering, in a lifelong chastity. … And the idea of a spiritual sacrifice is supported not only by the words, but also most decisively by the fact that the historian describes the fulfilment of the vow in the words ‘he did to her according to his vow,’ in such a manner as to lead to the conclusion that he regarded the act itself as laudable and good. But a prophetic historian could never have approved of a human sacrifice.” (Keil and Delitzsch, Commentary, 2:1:392–93.)"

[Backed into a corner because of Church calling]

By the way @Scott I appreciate you're willingness to be honest with your friends and family with a subject you know will be difficult to talk about. Honesty is always the best policy, even when it's hard as you know, and you wouldn't be an effective member of the bishopric without a testimony of Jesus Christ. My advice to your initial question you've already done (or will do) but don't give up. You have a lot of opportunity to grow your testimony, especially sonce you have observed the goodness of the fruits of the Gospel. You've mentiomed several times that you can still testify of several of these fruits, but to me it sounds like what you need most is a personal relationship with Christ. He is the foundation of any testimony and without that, you'll never find a satisfactory answer to the questions about the scriptures that you raise. I know you can find him brother, because I have, and He is there! Christ saved me, in a deep and very personal way and I know Him and have felt His love and His peace. No man can give you that knowledge, but you can find Him, and once you find Him you will find answers to your other concerns about the Church. Thanks for sharing your concerns with us, and I will pray for you in this difficult time.

[Where did the Book of Mormon take place?]

My view is mostly personal and based on ruins found throughout the Americas. I've always believed that parts of the Book of Mormon occurred in all three areas, and I can picture a lot of movement by the different peoples described (Hagoth comes to mind among others). The land was also changed by the natural disasters surrounding the Savior's death (how much we can only speculate but speculation can be fun ☺) which makes it difficult to pinpoint specific locations unless and untill we receive more revelation and more records from the Lord.

[Polygamy in class!]

I think that's a good point @anatess2 I would love to see us reach a Zion like level of righteousness. Although I'm not expecting it anytome soon☺

[Polygamy in class!]

Also, I've never thought of it as gross or icky, I just see how it could be hard (you're fighting with one wife so you commiserate with another, invariably you have wives you prefer to others see Jacob/Israel, certain wives get jealous of others etc.) I think it would be hard and I admire the early brethren and sisters for doing their best to fulfil God's commands despite the difficulties involved.

[Polygamy in class!]

I see you're point @Vort it's not anything to worry about for the moment. Plus as I said it's never bothered me, I just feel like it would be hard to live hypothetically. The only way it would directly affect me is in the case of the death of my spouse and honestly I'll worry about it then.