Xavier

I find that the last few hours of a fast are always the most challenging. I have come to rely on prayer during these times and I also focus on serving, but as you've mentioned, during a lockdown is kind of hard! Perhaps, document your thoughts and/or testimony for your children/family in form of a video log! I am actually doing that right now and it's definitely keeping my mind off of things!

The way I saw it is that he gave us a definite way for a proper fast, but IF for some reason, you are not able to do it, then there is a way to still "fast" by giving up something you might consider a sacrifice. so, to summarize, 1.- Abstain from eating and drinking for a period of 24 hours or 2.- Giving up something you would consider a sacrifice to go without for the same period Of course, every fast is accompanied by a monetary donation of your choice... perhaps that's a sacrifice on its own.

Is this Lent you're referring to in addition to fasting?

Sure, and that's understandable, however, this is more than just having an adequate food storage.

I have been thinking a lot about the signs given of these latter-days. Signs of the second coming and I can't help but think that everything happening right now is so coincidental to hat is about to happen in just a few weeks, these year being the bicentennial anniversary of God's appearance to Joseph Smith introducing His only beloved Son Jesus Christ, whom he sent. Could this pandemic be an attempt by Satan to destruct the world of such significant event, such as the very restoration of His true and living Church? Will this usher the last few events where the world will be so affected economically that the sign of the beast will be instituted and no-one will be able to trade or buy without this "sign"? Should we be concerned? How are you preparing should this be the case?

I agree, and wholeheartedly would conclude it as such. My main idea is that in today's environment of rising women's rights and/or equality movements, it seems as though, the traditional view of patriarchy is seem more like a misogynistic and chauvinistic traditions rather than an Celestial order previously approved by Our Father in Heaven.

So, I have read most of the responses here and they all seem to be helpful, however, they sound speculative in nature. No-one here can make any types of assessments as to whether or not your son has a "mental illness". Does he display symptoms that could lead one to believe that he is depressed, sure! But I am not going to diagnose it because I am not trained NOR have I spoken to him in person. I can share with you what my own experience was and then you can decide if my experience and what I did is something your son could do as an alternative. he needs help or if this is a passing thought. Firstly, I commend you for wanting your son to be whole and healthy and happy, like any loving and caring mother would. Missionary service is a really wonderful and rewarding experience one that gives back even days, weeks, years later. However, it's not easy to re-adjust once the mission is finished. A missionary Elder (or Sister) is endowed with the power of God himself to preach and touch the hearts of those they come in-contact with. That power can be felt and it is ever present in a missionary's life (so long as he/she is following the commandments and mission rules). With that power, a missionary can see how the Gospel, when being taught by the spirit, changes lives and blesses those who accept the message of salvation. Once the missionary is released, the Endowment he had for two years is no longer there and in most cases, not having it is a real feeling of "loss" and can be challenging to overcome. Most missionaries have a well established support system and even then, they struggle. However, if the missionary is focused on his future, He(she) must be involved and active in anything that gives them purpose. But I m sure you already knew that because that's the normal reaction for anyone going through some sort of grief process. I remember thinking to myself about how much I longed for my Grandma and my Aunts to hear the gospel and pray to God about its veracity. I then had a special experience about four months after I had started my mission and although at the moment it was very scary, later I realized that it was my Grandma coming to say goodbye. I remember doing my personal study (missionaries have a strict schedule to follow every morning and one of the hours prior to leaving the apartment for the day is to study the scriptures) and while I was reading my scriptures, I felt a sens of deep sadness. The kind of sadness that makes one sob uncontrollably. My companion saw me and was concerned and I couldn't explain what was happening. Suddenly I realized that perhaps my mom had passed away. Soon after I had that thought, I offered a prayer and asked Heavenly Father to help me accept His will regardless of whatever had happened. A few weeks later it as mother's day and I was praying that my mother would answer the call. After I dialed the number it rung a few times and then I heard my mother's voice. I was so relieved and at the same point confused. After a few minutes and greetings she had informed me that my Grandma had passed away. At that moment I felt at peace and I knew that she had come to say goodbye to me. I prayed to Heavenly Father that I needed Him to send missionaries to her right away because I was going to do her Temple Work as soon as I was back at home. Soon after I came home, I went to the temple and id the work for my Grandma and it was a wonderful experience. I have no doubt that she accepted the ordinances and is happy with her decision. I am not sure as to why you aren't a member of the Church or if you are but not active, nevertheless, I can see your son wanting desperately to share the gospel with you the way a missionary does and if you have resisted to learn more about the Gospel before, he might be having an internal struggle because he wants the Best for you. If you at some point decide to take the discussions, please involve him in the process. I am going to be bold and say this, it will be a much better experience of you at least learn and take the discussions now, than after you're gone through the veil. Eventually, if you decide not to take the discussions now, he will do the work for you after you're there. However, please do now that whether you do it now or then, you still have a choice and regardless of how your son feels or your husband, you are loved by God. Another aspect about being a returned missionary, is the fact that usually the bishop of your Ward puts the young man to work (a calling in the ward) and he might want to take a few weeks to "re-charge". Regardless of whatever the reason is, do not dismiss your gut-feeling and keep the lines of communication opened. He needs to talk to your husband, and he needs to talk to his bishop. He needs to get active and go to school or get a job. One last thing, upon finishing a mission, the mission president does one last interview and in that interview, most times, the mission president extorts the missionary to find a young lady to marry and not to take too long in doing so. It is a good advise however, it is definitely something that could be intimidating. Hope this helps and gives you an idea as to what he might have gone through. To finish, I would like to share with you AND YOUR SON, my testimony: I know without a shadow of a doubt that your son was called of God and that he had God's blessing to testify on His behalf. I know that the gospel is true and it's real. I know that the Book of Mormon changes lives and I know that it is the true word of God. I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He is the head of His Church. I also know that God lives and loves His children. He has living angels and some of those are called "Missionaries"! Most of the future is uncertain, but I know that if we live by the Word of God, that uncertainty will turn into Happiness. In the Book of Mormon there is a verse that gives me hope for the future: Mosiah 2:41 I share this with you in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

I've heard it many years ago and stuck in my head. I am studying now the concept and see a close relation to that. Can't seem to find any talks elated to this topic.

I am wondering how much of this ideology is still accepted by today's society? Is the "Me Too" movement causing many people to determine that men are no longer needed by women? How is 1 Corintians 11 still relevant in today's society and/or church culture without being looked like a misogynist? My understanding is this: Man's head (authority come from) is Christ Woman is Man's glory Woman's glory is her hair How is this ideology going to bring people to the truth when it causes many woman to be cautious of men due to the current universal feeling of womanhood and it's rise in "equality"?

Well, where to begin: mostly the changes in the temple endowment and the predominance of the Ordain Women movement, which may have had a role in these changes.

Here is a great article about this very subject: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1982/09/marriage-and-the-patriarchal-order?lang=eng

I have been looking at the rapid change in today's world's views and see that modern-day feminism is changing the way we all look at the proverbial family unit. I ask myself, if the Patriarchal Order is now dead. It seems as though, feminism is not in agreement of the way God has ordered the hierarchy of His kingdom. I find that some brothers whom have been endowed in the House of the Lord mistakenly have understood that the Patriarchal Order to be one of a dictatorship. This is far from the truth. However, feminism is not the antidote to chauvinistic male assertions of power. So, is the Patriarchal Oder Dead?

So, I have been searching documentation and/or a source from official church sources to back up the notion that a general authority does need a recommend to enter the temple, but such, is a lifetime recommend and does not expire. Does anyone know where I can find this information, or anything to expose something completely different? Thank you in advance for your assistance.

I agree. I think there will be a lot of people ok with that. Why would God provide "three levels/degrees" within the celestial kingdom? Not everyone will exalted. Which is the point to my original question.

However, agency is still paramount. I know worthy, righteous women who do not want to be married to men with multiple wives. Elohim will not force them...

There seems to be a common misconception about what exaltation really is, among some members of the church. While discussing this topic in a Facebook LDS group, it is thought that anyone in the celestial kingdom will be exalted. I tried to explain that that is not the case. Exaltation is reserved only for those who enter into the everlasting covenant of celestial marriage which is the highest level in the celestial kingdom. So, she was a little upset because she didn't think that was fair. She is a single lady and has done everything in her power to live the standards and has kept all of her covenants in the temple and feels she is "married" to the Lord (she hasn't found someone to marry in the temple). I made the attempt to explain that she need no worry because the lord will make sure she has a chance to be sealed to a worthy priesthood holder either in this life or the next. Of course, exaltation and eternal life s a broad and vast subject but the gist of it is the union of two celestial law abiding individuals who are one with God. What is your take on this?

I more-less explained this to her, but she didn't want to hear that!

She thinks that by using the word "MEN" to describe both, MEN and women, is misogynistic and sexist. She feels that God would never want to demean women to that extent.

Recently, I was having a conversation with an investigator and at one point, she made a very interesting observation. In the scriptures when describing humanity as a whole, the Lord uses “and the children of MEN”, or, “if MEN humble themselves...” . She felt that it demotes womenhood to be less than that of men and that God would never place such restrictions on women. I made the attempt to express that in any language, the general way to describe humanity as a whole, it was by using the word “MEN” and that in noway it’s used to demean women. She wasn’t sastified with that answer. So, two questions: 1.- How could you explain and provide a suitable answer to explain this to people such as this lady? 2.- Is feminism going to destroy humanity to the point of abolishing anything and everything related masculinity?

There is what we call Absolute Truth, which is what defines God. To wonder if God lies or tells the truth is counterproductive to the infantile human mind. To make this concept even more simplistic, let's look at some facts that bring the question of wether or not God lies, to rest: President Kimball said: So, the key to understanding is to listen and understand those silent truths President Kimball is talking about. Now, what are those silent truths? Let's explore a few: In a talk given by President Kimball, he elaborates on the difference between relative truth and absolute truth. It's amazing and I hope you take some time to ponder it's content. I have reread it at least a dozen times and still learn something new. I love this quote from such talk: click here for the quote So, relatively speaking of truth, thats what you're experiencing right now. Regardless of wether or not you think God may or may not lie, is absolute relative to the absolute truth which is he DOESN'T. He has said and done many things that are constant and does not deviate from what he says. Never has, never will. Otherwise he woukd ceased to be God and remember that those are the traits of someone telling the truth. In Mathew 7:15 - 20 we read: So, why would God expect his servants to be truthful and not expect that of himself? It just didn't add up. So, from a logical point of view we can conclude that He Doesn't lie and will NEVER lie. It's just not his His nature and expects us to learn from him so that one day, we too may be in truth AND in spirit. Hope that helps clear that up a bit. Regards, @Xavier P.S. not sure why I couldn't attach the links but here they are: "Absolute truth": https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/spencer-w-kimball_absolute-truth/ "by their fruits ya shall know them": https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1985/10/by-their-fruits-ye-shall-know-them?lang=eng