dprh

I think you just described the Grinch's backstory.

I sometimes wonder about how missionary work will go in the Spirit World
Missionary: Let me tell you about Jesus Christ
Investigator: Wait, am I dead?
M: Yep, so am I
I: We're both dead?
M: Sure are, now you get a chance to learn about the gospel.
I: We're both dead, and we're both in the same place?
M: Well, yeah.  I'm here to share with you the good news!
I: Since we're in the same place, I don't think you got it right.
I walks (floats?) away.

I sometimes wonder about how missionary work will go in the Spirit World
Missionary: Let me tell you about Jesus Christ
Investigator: Wait, am I dead?
M: Yep, so am I
I: We're both dead?
M: Sure are, now you get a chance to learn about the gospel.
I: We're both dead, and we're both in the same place?
M: Well, yeah.  I'm here to share with you the good news!
I: Since we're in the same place, I don't think you got it right.
I walks (floats?) away.

The word dependency can be used in few different ways.  @mikbone correctly pointed out that we are always dependent on oxygen, water, physics, etc.  but that is usually not what we mean when we say an infant is dependent, but an adult is independent.  In that case we mean that the person can acquire/fulfill their dependency(in the first sense) without help.
For example infants should be independently acquiring oxygen from the very beginning or there is serious problem, but they will not be independently acquiring water or food until they older.  Thus we consider infants and children dependent in a way that adult are not.  Thus we could say that independence is the ablity to acquiring ones dependency from the surrounding environment.  The environment has to be there.
But there is more then just dependence and independence.  There is also interdependence.  If you have to spend all day gathering/hunting food you are not going to get much else done.  So you work with others, you trust others, you depend on others and they depend on you. That gets us families and villages and nations.
The Gospel is the same, God creates the environment that we all depend on.  We are then expected/required to act within that sphere (agency) and form Families, churches, Zion (interdependence)
 It also works on a very personal level.  God supports our very existence, every breath we take (dependency).  He wants us to come to him (independent). And to covenant with him (interdependent)    

I agree with this way of reasoning, but it seems to be a minority opinion among the Saints.

There is some common notion that it is almost "unfair" that so many people get the opportunity to accept "without faith".  i.e. they arrive in the Spirit World and find that they will all of a sudden have full remembrance of the entire plan before the world was.  And they will obviously accept.  
That just isn't so.

I often cringe when I hear the term "self-reliant" because it seems so contrary to the teaching of submitting to the Lord in all things.  We are supposed to rely on Him.  I can't approach the Father without Jesus.  I am completely dependent on Him.  That's just the way it is.  Now, can we get to a point where we are not dependent on Him?  Maybe, in the Celestial Kingdom, but I think not.  
Another thought...we are subject to gravity.  But that doesn't mean given the right equipment, thrust, lift, other aviation terms, that we can't leave the surface of the earth.  Being dependent on God doesn't limit us, it is how we 'fly'.
 

I often cringe when I hear the term "self-reliant" because it seems so contrary to the teaching of submitting to the Lord in all things.  We are supposed to rely on Him.  I can't approach the Father without Jesus.  I am completely dependent on Him.  That's just the way it is.  Now, can we get to a point where we are not dependent on Him?  Maybe, in the Celestial Kingdom, but I think not.  
Another thought...we are subject to gravity.  But that doesn't mean given the right equipment, thrust, lift, other aviation terms, that we can't leave the surface of the earth.  Being dependent on God doesn't limit us, it is how we 'fly'.
 

I wonder about the term 'dependence'.  Our reliance on God's grace and the atoning sacrifice of Christ for our sins - I suppose that's the definition of dependence.  But if the word seems to have a non-positive aspect to it, I don't really see the plan of salvation as any sort of a negative.  
Is there a problem with being dependent on a loving Father in Heaven for eternal life?

Are the only possibly outcomes of the plan of salvation either 1) dependence on God, or 2) damnation? It seems to me that no matter how a person lives their lives, either with perfect uprightness and integrity, or as the very vilest of sinners, or anywhere in between, dependence or damnation seem to be the only possible outcomes. Is there anything else?

Think not when you gather to Zion,
Your troubles and trials are through,
That nothing but comfort and pleasure
Are waiting in Zion for you.
No, no, 'tis designed as a furnace,
All substance, all textures to try,
To burn all the " wood, hay, and stubble, "
The gold from the dross purify.
Think not when you gather to Zion,
That all will be holy and pure;
That fraud and deception are banished,
And confidence wholly secure.
No, no, for the Lord our Redeemer
Has said that the tares with the wheat
Must grow till the great day of burning
Shall render the harvest complete.
Think not when you gather to Zion,
The saints here have nothing to do
But to look to your personal welfare,
And always be comforting you.
No, those who are faithful are doing
What they find to do with their might;
To gather the scattered of Israel
They labor by day and by night.
Think not when you gather to Zion,
The prize and the victory won.
Think not that the warfare is ended,
The work of salvation is done.
No, no, for the great prince of darkness
A tenfold exertion will make,
When he sees you go to the fountain,
Where freely the truth you may take.
-Eliza R. Snow

From this weeks Come Follow Me lesson intro
 

From this weeks Come Follow Me lesson intro
 

A thought of my own triggered by yours...  A lot of us think that Zion is going to be a place that we find and join.. in which case strange, and alien it might be... But I do not think our task is going to be to find and join Zion... I think it is going to be/is to Build Zion which requires a much more active mindset then just looking for.

I found this forum a couple weeks ago and have posted a few times.  I like this community and figure I'll stick around and check in every so often.
I am in my late 30's, married with three kids.  I've been a missionary, financial clerk, ward clerk, YM's adviser and councilor, den leader, primary and Sunday School teacher in church.  Recently excommunicated, but working hard to repent, change, and be re-admitted into the Church. 
I am trying to develop more healthy connections with more people instead of isolating myself.  I figure an anonymous forum would be a good place to reach out.  My wife and I aren't comfortable yet with most real-life people knowing of our situation.  She's changed the setting for our family on the directory to private so most people can't see us. 

My wife and I cringe every time we hear someone at church say "Jesus never said it would be easy, he just said it would be worth it."  because (as far as we know) he never said that.  
A yoke, is was a piece of wood that is fastened to the necks of two animals and then attached to a plow or cart.  It is not the burden itself.  It is the method of uniting two animals together.  
In addiction recovery, we often say "One day at a time."  When I first started, my wife was often upset that I couldn't/wouldn't promise to be clean the rest of my life.  I could promise that today, I will be good.  I start my mornings dedicating the day to the Lord and asking for His guidance and help.  Every morning, I yoke myself with Him and it's easy to do.  There may be difficulties and at times I want to fight or pull away, but when I tie myself to Him, it works out.  

My wife and I cringe every time we hear someone at church say "Jesus never said it would be easy, he just said it would be worth it."  because (as far as we know) he never said that.  
A yoke, is was a piece of wood that is fastened to the necks of two animals and then attached to a plow or cart.  It is not the burden itself.  It is the method of uniting two animals together.  
In addiction recovery, we often say "One day at a time."  When I first started, my wife was often upset that I couldn't/wouldn't promise to be clean the rest of my life.  I could promise that today, I will be good.  I start my mornings dedicating the day to the Lord and asking for His guidance and help.  Every morning, I yoke myself with Him and it's easy to do.  There may be difficulties and at times I want to fight or pull away, but when I tie myself to Him, it works out.  

Honestly, from your post, it sounds like you haven't put any study into it.  You've thought about it, but don't have any reference other than your own experience.  I'd suggest reading some articles on Depression or even talking to some people who have suffered with it.  It will probably change your outlook.  And until you do, it actually might be best for you not to talk about it.  The whole post came off as insensitive, uninformed, and rude.

I've had good personal experience with both therapy and medication when dealing with clinically diagnosed depression.  
For myself, I'd be much more inclined to listen to someone who comes to me gently, with love than someone who tells me to get over it.  I don't know how many times I've heard of depressed people being told to just be happy, just get over it.  I do know that I have never heard of it working.

Dude, I even admitted that there was a semantics issue.  I'll repeat my question.  Can you see a difference between feeling bad about doing something bad and feeling like you are bad?
You're putting a lot of words in my mouth.  You pick one piece of my post, come up with extreme examples and extrapolate conclusions.  These are the types of responses that make this forum a less-than-welcoming place sometimes.  
Thanks for all the fish.

We agree on something!  

When I was Depressed, that would be Po-tay-to and Po-tah-to.

Maybe not praised.  But I gotta admit, since I've been going to ARP meetings I've learned a lot about sharing my thoughts, feelings, weaknesses with others.  There is something cathartic and healing about identifying and voicing them as well as hearing from others with similar circumstances.  Plenty of things I share I wouldn't be brave enough to say in public because I'm too scared about how others would react and treat me.  A big part of addiction lies in the secrets, the hiding.  Sometimes (I'd argue almost always) losing the shaming is a good thing.

I don't know about how others feel, but as I watch my kids grow, I'm excited for them, but also a part of me mourns that they aren't the cute, little infant, toddler, pre-schooler, etc that they used to be.  I think it's similar to that.  And @estradling75 said it better as I was thinking  

Why do many parents cry when they send there kids off on mission?  Its not like the kids are dying... they are just going away for awhile.
Yet we have no problem with that. We don't question its appropriateness.   We recognize that change can be hard, and that there is some loss, if only temporary.
Death is change... Death is loss, even if only temporary one.  Its ok and even acceptable to grieve and mourn when this happens.
The fact that we believe in a glorious reunion.. does mean we do not have a loss and its related pain now.