DennisTate

@lostinwater  I like how you present things that we should think about and how you think about others
@The Folk Prophet Haven't seen you around recently, but I think it is great that you defend the gospel and what you feel is right.

So, with some of the topics I have felt a bit of negativity recently (probably on my own part perhaps) and so I thought I'd create a positive thread.  In this thread we compliment those we know of in the forum.  I'm going to try to give everyone compliments (and if Somehow I miss you, PLEASE, tell me in the thread.  It is not due to maliciousness on my part, but I'm a older and sometimes my mind is not as sharp as many others around her.  Forgive me for my bad memory and jog it with a post so I can include you).
So, I'll start...
@JaneDoe I appreciate your thoughtful replies
@NeuroTypical I enjoy your snark at times, and though I may not understand it, your little Pony enthusiasm
@CV75 I enjoy your willingness to discuss things with people who have questions and your recent posts in the Resurrection thread.
@zil I appreciate that you are active on the forums and, though I do not understand it fully, that you are so enthusiastic about fountain pens
@BJ64 I think it is great that you pick up on small details and want to help those that are striving to do better
@Traveler I appreciate you injecting a more scientific approach at times and explaining things from a more technical mindset
@MormonGator I like that someone from a rival team is here (LoL), but I also enjoy that you can relax the forum and spring in some humor when we all get too serious
@FetherI think that you do wonderfully at striving to do good, and this is an extremely commendable thing
@Iggy I think your staunch support of standards and your desire to help others up is something that is wonderful
@MrShorty You seem to be able to navigate the middle ground at times and try to create peace.  The Lord said, blessed is the peacemakers.
@Grunt I appreciate how you bring up the gospel so plainly and point out how these we should know.  It brings us back to how we should be, rather than trying to dodge around commandments.
@Just_A_Guy  I think you look great in a suit ( hah).
@Just_A_Guy I do think it was good you wore a suit, but there is more to compliment you on, just making a joke because I know you can take it.  That's what I like about you, you can take all the abuse and still be nice.
@Carborendum  I think you and I are more alike than we may think at times, and I like how you stick to your guns and your morals.
@Anddenex  You bring in thoughtful injections into conversations that note that you really think about the subject and consider what is said or not said
@Scott I appreciate how you like to go back to sources.  You like to check to see where something is sourced and give a source for your comments
@Blackmarch  You are blunt at times, but we all need the blunt truth to bring us back to reality.
@Laniston You have a smaller post history so it is harder to define what I enjoy, but from what I've seen, I think I appreciate your willingness to share personal experiences with the rest of us.
@unixknightI enjoy how frank you are in admitting your own difficulties which helps us to understand our own and help prop others up in there striving to be good.
@estradling75  I not sure I understand the carebear, but I do appreciate your willingness to share your opinion, even when others may be hostile to it.  It takes courage to do so at times.
@SilentOne  You are exceptional and you speak through listening and only say something when it is important.  We all could learn more from your approach.
@Vort  I love that you stand for something (the gospel).  Gordon B. Hinckley instructed us so and it is good to see someone doing that.
@Emmanuel Goldstein  Not a ton of posts to know you well yet, but you seem to convey a lot with very little.
@mrmarklin  I like that you are able to converse with those who need advice and share with them in order to help them
@pwrfrk  I think it is good that you bring us to recognize how blessed we are and strive to help others with your advice and words of peace
@theplains  Not a long time member, but it seems that you enjoy talking about the gospel with others and I think that is a good thing to do.
@wenglund  I appreciate how you are normally trying to discuss hard subjects without condemnation or judgement, but rather understanding and hope.
@Jersey Boy  I think that you are willing to share your feelings in the open which is a hard thing some of us have doing.
@Rob Osborn  You point out the plain and precious things of the gospel at times.  Even if we don't agree with all your opinions, I think it is terrific that you point these things out
@NeedleinA   You are a wonder to read in your posts.  You try to help others on the forums and have some interesting perspectives
@Crypto  I see you post infrequently but people genuinely like you and your posts here
@warnerfranklin  I haven't seen you around much recently on the forums, but I appreciate how you share your views and opinions and how thoughtful you can be
@Lost Boy  I like how you express sympathy for those in need and empathy for others.  I appreciate how you can make us think about how others are and how we should be.
@Midwest LDS  Thank you for how you interact with others and taking the time to listen
@Backroads  I also enjoy how you show empathy for others and how you, despite your troubles, try to listen.  I hope that you continue to enjoy your new job also
@askandanswer  I find your answers refreshing at times and your injections in conversations interesting
@mordorbund  Tis an interesting name you have.  LotR connection?  I think you express your humility at times and I appreciate that willingness
@mirkwood  Another reference that seems it could be a Lord of the Rings thing?  Anyways, I think you try to make things lighter on the forums and make others laugh.
@anatess2  I like how you tell it how it is.  You come right out and tell us what you think and I feel that is a good thing.
@person0  You have things to share with us that enlightens our minds, though you also tend to joke around as well at times
@classylady  Your name bespeaks for itself.  We would all do better if we had as much class as you
@Maureen  You help us to recognize that we are mistaken in many of our assumptions and point out the good in others
@bytebear  I find your comments fun to read and at time enlightening
@seashmore  I look forward to reading your posts and enjoy what you have to say.  I enjoy how you share your experiences and your thoughts on things
@DennisTate  You are another that I cannot say I have read a ton of your comments, but from what I see you are thoughtful and reflect on what you write.
@LiterateParakeet  Your posts are refreshing on these forums as they try to see the best in people and view the best possible things about others
@MaryJehanne  Your willingness to share about the Catholic Church is appreciated
@Lindy  sharing experiences from your life is good in showing us examples and ways to be.
@Sunday21  Your enthusiasm is a beacon for us all.  Your love for the temple is also something I admire greatly
@SpiritDragon  You are a wonderful person that seems to be Canadian. 
@Jeremy A  I'm not sure how many have participated in your trivia but you keep on trying and going.  You are like the energizer bunny.  Perserverance is a positive quality.
I'm certain I've missed many, I've tried to include as many as possible and yet I've probably still failed.  If so, be aware it is NOT because I don't think you are wonderful, but simply because there are so many names and so many people and remembering them all is sometimes very difficult.  I probably forgot some of the closest and dearest ones that are on these forums.  I apologize, but if I did miss you, just tell me in the next day or two and I'll hopefully have that to jog my memory.
Don't let me be the only one, if you have people you want to compliment on something they did on the forum, go ahead and post it!
We should recognize people for doing good!
 

I have read that there are 4.3 trillion USA petro- dollars in the hands of 
nations, companies and individuals not friendly to the USA and they want to devalue the USA dollar.  
Israel's large scale desalination technology may hold the key to setting in motion a win - win - win - win - win 
mega project that would benefit the USA, Israel, all nations with enough desert to be interested in large scale desalination......
and cities vulnerable to the threat of rising ocean levels....... such as New Orleans and Florida.  

Hello, again, Dennis!  Sorry for the long absence... Life picked up again.
Yes, they do fear Him, because He is their Creator (which is a major point where I differ from LDS belief). You can see how they view Him through the Bible.
In Matthew 8:29, it says, "They cried out, “What have you to do with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the appointed time?”" (emphasis added) Just a couple lines down in verse 31, it says, "The demons pleaded with him, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of swine.”"(emphasis added).
In Mark 1:23-26: "In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him.
In each instance you can see the unperturbed authority of Christ and the fear of the demons, even acknowledging their powerlessness, saying, for instance, "if you drive us out," signaling that that is at Our Lord's behest, regardless of their wishes. They plead with Him; they ask if He is there to torment or destroy them.
 
If a vision is inspired by a demon, I'd waste no time attempting to uncover a kernel of truth within it. If there were any, it would only be a bait to lure or confuse you into acknowledging the rest (the best lies are often mixed with truths, to make them more attractive and harder to refute). And I hardly think they'd risk providing you with anything that could possibly turn out to be helpful! I would think, to look for truth, it'd be best to read the Bible, authors such as St. Augustine and St. Francis DeSales, etc.
Generally, as far as I know, visions and visitations are discerned, if at all, with the help of the Church, which can investigate claims. As a Catholic, I'd consider it dangerous to put too much stock in anything that had not been verified by the Church, and even then, the Church does not require that the faithful follow personal revelations (By legitimate personal revelations I still mean, of course, revelations that do not contradict Church teaching!).
 
 

Wow - I've never had the honor.  I've always been grateful for the prayers of others, whether they're members of my church or not.  Going in to surgery one time, I had a random assortment of Christians offering to pray for me, and a spiritualist and sort of undefined gaia-earth-animal-spirit believing person offering to do whatever they do, in my behalf.  I said 'the more the merrier' and gratefully accepted.  It's nice to be cared about by folks - I don't have to care about who is more right and less right. 
Hearing someone pray for me in tongues?  That would be very cool.
Our church does have some experience with tongues, much of it from the Kirtland temple dedication.  Our spin on it, is that if God is having us use that method of communication, it is for His purposes, and knowledge will be communicated.  Meaning, if someone speaks in tongues, someone else will be there with the gift of interpretation of tongues, who will receive the information.
These days, we figure the gift of tongues is what helps our missionaries learn new languages in 6 weeks before heading out into the mission field. 

There are several levels of NDE's.
For genuine NDE's I have yet to actually find something that verifiably conflicts with LDS teachings.  Normally there may be a different way of viewing what we might think about, but from a bigger picture it really doesn't contradict.
On the otherhand, there is an entire New Age Movement which feels that Out of Body experiences and other very odd and almost occult type ideas are the same as NDE's have a LOT of things that seem to directly counter LDS thought.
For the former, it can be interesting to read what happens at times. 
For the latter, I view it as either all fiction or inspired by forces OTHER than that which we normally consider holy at times...especially when it is an OoBE that they are referring to and trying to equate as the same as a true NDE.

Am I the only one who sees this thread topic and thinks “why in the HECK are we talking about Howard Stern, and since when does he have a PhD?”

I'm an LDS lady married to an Evangelical dude.  We have a fantastic marriage and relationship.  

I agree. Perhaps it is a levels distinction. What you say is correct in terms of the source for foundational rbeliefs, whereas I was speaking more in terms of the source for everyday and practical beliefs.
To me, it is the difference between beliefs derived from the scriptures, on the one hand,  and beliefs derived out of the best books (Article of Faith 13)  Affirming he source is key to the former, but not all that pertinent to the latter.
My intent in drawing this distinction is to place an emphasis on canon while leaving room for other sources of belief. For my part, I am not all that intterested in NDE because there is enough in the scriptures and other authoritative sources in the church to fill my plate, though I can respect that others may find NDEs useful.
For those who may find NDEs useful, the question then becomes, which do you rely on when NDEs conflict with the scriptures and/or the beliiefs of the Church?
Thanks, -Wade Englund-

When you referred to the Swamp, I thought you were talking about Washington!
The Chinese Branch in the Adelaide Australia mission is one of the highest baptising units in Australia. A lot of Chinese people are really hungry for religion.

According to the October 2016 edition of New Era, "nothing has been revealed about evolution" and "the Church has no official position on evolution."
But the Prophet Joseph Fielding Smith and the Prophet Ezra Taft Benson spoke plainly against evolution.  The Prophet Joseph Fielding Smith taught: 
"It has been truthfully said that organic evolution is Satan’s chief weapon in this dispensation in his attempt to destroy the divine mission of Jesus Christ. It is a contemptible plot against faith in God and to destroy the effective belief in the divine atonement of our Redeemer� There is not and cannot be, any compromise between the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the theories of evolution. Were evolution true, there could be no remission of sin. In fact there could be no sin. (Ibid., p. 184)"
And the Prophet Ezra Taft Benson taught:
"Now, we have not been using the Book of Mormon as we should. Our homes are not as strong unless we are using it to bring our children to Christ. Our families may be corrupted by worldly trends and teachings unless we know how to use the book to expose and combat the falsehoods in socialism, organic evolution, rationalism, humanism, etc."
If the teachings of our own prophets don't constitute an "official position" for a given topic, then the church doesn't have an official position on anything. 

Who will share the restored Gospel with him? Just as Parley P. Pratt after his revelations, and the Restorationists in Joseph Smith's day, he will need to receive all the covenants and ordinances Lord has prepared for His children through the keys.

I just finished reading this thread by Thekabalist, and the 3 pages of replies and comments.
I'll admit before I started reading I expected the forum to be people of the Jewish Faith finding flaws in the Book of Mormon. Now I will admit that I didn't understand everything that was said as thoroughly, or as deeply as others who have commented. But I was pleasantly surprised. Because, for me it is yet another testament to the truthfulness of The Book of Mormon. Brother Ray

Hi forum,
This is something Vanhin had asked me to do a while ago in the last forum. As I am beginning to read the BoM at last, I am also taking notes for myself. I then decided to share with you some Jewish comments on the narrative. Please tell me what you think. :)
1 I, NEPHI, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceedings in my days.

Name etymology: Nefi - possible from the Hebrew נפל (Nefil) which means "tall one".
Nephi the scribe: In ancient Israel a scribe was an office of high prestige. Being a scribe meant that one was well instructed in the Torah-Law of Israel. Being a scribe, Nephi was certainly a prestigious member of his society. In the Jerusalem Targum, Moses and Aaron are called the scribes of Israel. Judaism mantains that Moses began a school of prominently faithful israelites who would have the mission of transmitting the teachings of the law. Nephi would have been a member of such ancient scribal school.
Mysteries of G-d: There is a word-play between the word ספר (sofer - scribe) and the ספירות (sefirot) which account in Judaism for the mysterious nature of G-d. Nephi was therefore very knowledgeable in the higher truths of Judaism.
2 Yea, I make a record in the language of my father, which consists of the learning of the Jews and the language of the Egyptians.
Part of the role of a scribe was also to translate the Torah-law into other languages so that the laymen in exile would understand it. The greatest known literature in Judaism are the Targums in Aramaic and the Samaritan Targum in Arabic. This role of scribe seems to be fulfilled when Nephi writes in the Egyptian language.
3 And I know that the record which I make is true; and I make it with mine own hand; and I make it according to my knowledge.
In Judaism, hands were used in connection to oaths. See for example. Gen. 24:2 By emphasizing that the writing is of his own hand Nephi is taking an oath concerning its truthfulness.
4 For it came to pass in the commencement of the afirst year of the reign of Zedekiah, king of Judah, (my father, Lehi, having dwelt at Jerusalem in all his days); and in that same year there came many prophets, prophesying unto the people that they must repent, or the great city Jerusalem must be destroyed.
Repent: The word in Hebrew for this is the word שוב (shuv) which quite literally means to return. Nephi's warnings were that the people had strayed from the Torah-Law of G-d. Repenting in Judaism is more than a feeling. It is seeking the original way. Two schools of thought within Judaism defined such repentance: Some say repentance is to seek the state of the Sinai. Others define it as seeking the state of our primary existence as it was in the Garden of Eden.
5 Wherefore it came to pass that my father, Lehi, as he went forth prayed unto the Lord, yea, even with all his heart, in behalf of his people.

Name etymology: Lehi (לחי) means "jaw".
Prayed with all his heart: The heart in Jewish culture meant the center of one's spirituality, whether good or bad. The Jewish Midrash in Bereshit Rabbah 67 says:
"The wicked are in the power of their heart, but the righteous have their heart in their power."
The meaning idea of Lehi praying with all his heart meant that no evil was to be found in his heart for he had overcome it.
6 And it came to pass as he prayed unto the Lord, there came a pillar of fire and dwelt upon a rock before him; and he saw and heard much; and because of the things which he saw and heard he did quake and tremble exceedingly.
In ancient Jewish tradition the pillar of fire symbolizes the power of G-d's word to transform. It is said that Onkelos converted many into Judaism by narrating how G-d is the pillar of fire before Israel.
7 And it came to pass that he returned to his own house at Jerusalem; and he cast himself upon his bed, being overcome with the Spirit and the things which he had seen.
8 And being thus overcome with the Spirit, he was carried away in a vision, even that he saw the heavens open, and he thought he saw God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels in the attitude of singing and praising their God.
9 And it came to pass that he saw One descending out of the midst of heaven, and he beheld that his luster was above that of the sun at noon-day.
From Nephi's description of the angels seen by Lehi we can be sure that Lehi saw cherubim (כרובים) – which in Hebrew means "the near ones".
In the ancient wisdom of Kabalah (Zohar Terumah 2:176a), the cherubim represented the closeness between G-d and Israel. When Israel was in connection with G-d the cherubim turned unto G-d for praise. When Israel strayed away the cherubim would rebuke the Jewish people. It comes as no surprise that it is the cherubim who send the message to Lehi.
10 And he also saw twelve others following him, and their brightness did exceed that of the stars in the firmament.

Jewish tradition mantains that the stars are governed by the angels of heaven. The 12 cherubim mentioned by Lehi are also cited in the Book of Enoch:
"Its ceiling was like the path of stars and lightning, and between them were 12 fiery
cherubim, and their skies were as waters."
Like what is inferred from Enoch, Lehi's vision shows that such angels ruled above the stars of heaven. This is particularly revelant as Babylonian culture of Lehi's time would see the stars as governing the fate of mankind. In Lehi's vision G-d shows him how he is above and in control of the fate of Jerusalem.
11 And they came down and went forth upon the face of the earth; and the first came and stood before my father, and gave unto him a book, and bade him that he should read.

Another possible word-play between ספיר (sapir - brightness) and ספר (sefer - book). In Judaism, it is said that the heavens contain the records of what will become of the world. Therefore this again indicates a revelation of the fate of Jerusalem.
12 And it came to pass that as he read, he was filled with the Spirit of the Lord.
Usually the term in Hebrew for filled in this case is מלא (maleh) which means not only to fill, but also to confirm.

There is a fascinating word-play here with מלא (fill) and מלאך (malach - angel). The only difference between the two words is the letter כ in its final form. This is also the first letter of the word cherub as well as the word star (כוכב - cochav). It seems therefore that the spirit-filling of Lehi comes as a second witness to the message of the angels, as demanded by Torah-Law which requires two witnesses to establish truth.
13 And he read, saying: Wo, wo, unto Jerusalem, for I have seen thine abominations! Yea, and many things did my father read concerning Jerusalem—that it should be destroyed, and the inhabitants thereof; many should perish by the sword, and many should be carried away captive into Babylon.
14 And it came to pass that when my father had read and seen many great and marvelous things, he did exclaim many things unto the Lord; such as: Great and marvelous are thy works, O Lord God Almighty! Thy throne is high in the heavens, and thy power, and goodness, and mercy are over all the inhabitants of the earth; and, because thou art merciful, thou wilt not suffer those who come unto thee that they shall perish!

It may sound odd to the reader that Lehi rejoiced over such news. However in Judaism it's a rather common attitude. Ancient kabalah believes that when something evil befalls Israel it means that it's in fact such a highly elevated goodness that this world cannot comprehend it. This is why the prophets often rejoiced over that which would ultimately save Israel even if it meant suffering for a while.
15 And after this manner was the language of my father in the praising of his God; for his soul did rejoice, and his whole heart was filled, because of the things which he had seen, yea, which the Lord had shown unto him.
16 And now I, Nephi, do not make a full account of the things which my father hath written, for he hath written many things which he saw in visions and in dreams; and he also hath written many things which he prophesied and spake unto his children, of which I shall not make a full account.

The Talmud in tractate Avodah Zarah states that dreams are 1/60th of a prophecy. Rambam (Moses Ben Maimon) in Moreh Nevuchim states that in order to achieve the level of the prophets one must at least speak to an angel in a dream. The highest level one can achieve within prophecy without actual involvement in the prophetic events is to rebuke the people in the name of G-d. This shows how Lehi was a prominent prophet in his time.
17 But I shall make an account of my proceedings in my days. Behold, I make an aabridgment of the record of my father, upon plates which I have made with mine own hands; wherefore, after I have abridged the record of my dfather then will I make an account of mine own life.

Given that a scroll can wear out, in Judaism plates are considered to be a means in which one would only record the most sacred or precious information. To this very day Jewish prayer books are often covered by engraved plates for that very reason. An important example is the Copper Scroll from the Dead Sea Scrolls which contained the location of several treasures from the Temple of Jerusalem.
18 Therefore, I would that ye should know, that after the Lord had shown so many marvelous things unto my father, Lehi, yea, concerning the destruction of Jerusalem, behold he went forth among the people, and began to prophesy and to declare unto them concerning the things which he had both seen and heard.
19 And it came to pass that the Jews did mock him because of the things which he testified of them; for he truly testified of their wickedness and their abominations; and he testified that the things which he saw and heard, and also the things which he read in the book, manifested plainly of the coming of a Messiah, and also the redemption of the world.
There's a clear word-play between גילויה (giluyah - manifestation) and גאולה (geulah - redemption). Thus Nephi seems to indicate that the manifestation of Messiah would mean the redemption of the world.
It may almost go unnoticed to the reader that one of the reasons why the Jewish people of Lehi's time may have become upset is because at the time the idea of a global redemption was not yet unanimous in Judaism. Many thought that only Israel would be redeemd and the other nations would serve them.
20 And when the Jews heard these things they were angry with him; yea, even as with the prophets of old, whom they had cast out, and stoned, and slain; and they also sought his life, that they might take it away. But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance.

There is an ancient Jewish proverb that is likely to have been known by Nephi which says:
"Pray to God for mercy until the last shovelful of earth is cast upon thy grave."
Nephi's words seem to be an answer to such a proverb by turning it around and stating clearly that he would not take his prayers to his grave.

What language are you reading the Book of Mormon, thekabalist?

I also want to know if you will be doing more of this with your reading? I sincerely would like to read more. Knowing the Jewish history and understanding side helps me to understand my own reading of the Book of Mormon.

Hopefully he will accept the benefits of the keys when he receives that opportunity!

The creationists among would say that it is not only possible, but probable that radiometric dating is completely bogus. There is a report out there that Dr. Henry Eyring once sat down with Joseph Fielding Smith to discuss these issues, and he (a chemist) could not convince Elder Smith (a fairly staunch young earth creationist) that radiometric dating had any validity. They apparently agreed to disagree and went on their separate ways.
Those of us who have been blinded by modern science would probably say something like radiometric data does have uncertainty in it (like any measurement method), but there is not enough uncertainty to have dinosaurs and hominids co-existing on the planet at the same time (except for those who want to be pedantic and remind us that birds could technically be classified as dinosaurs and, obviously, we co-exist with birds even today).
From there, the long and painful and never ending debate between creationist and evolutionist continues with no resolution or reconciliation in sight.

Is it possible that carbon dating is way off and that dinosaurs may have been the giants spoken of in the Book of Moses?
Moses 7:15 And the giants of the land, also, stood afar off
Moses 8:18 And in those days there were giants on the earth, and they sought Noah to take away his life; but the Lord was with Noah, and the power of the Lord was upon him. 

Secret combinations doing their thing. Most people call them the Illuminati. I'm sure they go by some other secret name. They have control of everything including the church. The biggest tell about that is how Ballard gave a talk saying there are no secret combinations. That defies common sense and the BOM. I guess my only hope is that Jesus heads the church and one day will have dominion over all the world. That currently the devil has control of the world. I'm just not sure how a church controlled by the "Illuminati" can be Christ's church. That's what I'm currently struggling with...

Thanks. Nah, I'm just here to speak to someone. Just passing through. :)

Hi @kiwii Nice to meet you! Look forward to your posts! 🥝 

Short answer: Yes.
I was a convert that resigned and had my name removed from the rolls. At one point I began looking for answers to the questions that led to my leaving. I fully expected that I would be returning to the church. During that time I was also attending meetings, studying in the Institute library, and attended a couple of Institute classes & events.
All of this to say, the Bishop of the ward I was attending was very helpful and friendly. He did do some sort of check to verify my status, and assured me afterwards that I would be welcomed back and what steps would be involved (I had not been excommunicated; nor had I targeted the church).
Like others have said: attend meetings; talk with the Bishop. But I am telling you from first-hand experience. I hope that you find comfort in this and can move forward with your desire to return to the temple. Don't worry about your file. Be honest and sincere within your own heart and trust that He will lead you to where you need to be. Like my grandmother would say, "Turn it over to the Lord."
p.s. I haven't been here in years. What are the chances that I would see your post? eh?

Christ stands at the door knocking, but you are the one that has to open that door.
A man does not run the church.  The church is run by God and his Son Jesus Christ.  This takes faith to believe this.  This is a church based on faith..  Not blind faith, but faith.
There are various things that the church teaches that are out of step with the philosophies of men.  We can certainly know the truthfulness of these things through the testifying of the spirit.
However, we can forget these things as well.  
You don't physically see a God sitting at the head of the church because he requires us to have faith.  True faith is trusting in the Lord.  Trusting that he is leading the church and its teachings.
As for the sleep deprivation...  Why is that happening?

The Church doesn't have much control over that.  The Church wants everybody back.  Whether you get back is up to YOU.