Honor

I'm a maybe, Kira. I know it doesn't change the #'s much, but yeah.

Your name sounds familiar. I know this is random, but you're not from northern California are you?

Someone very close to me sent me this article a few months ago. Over those months she studied quite a bit about early churc history and has slowly lost her testimony of Joseph Smith and is falling away from the church. I don't know what to do to help her. She's more interested in these kinds of things than I am. I don't want to be blind and just turn away from it, but I have a feeling that it would cause confusion with my own beliefs. The only thing I keep coming back to is that the church is either true or it's not, and if it's not, I've got a lot more confusion and questions than if it's true. I've always been one to be satisfied knowing that I don't know everything and that a loving Heavenly Father does, but I know that the questions about all this stuff can weigh heavily on the mind. No answers for you, but you're certainly not alone in your thoughts on all this.

Yeah my hometown in northern California was similar to yours Havejoy, but I had only 3 teachers.

I don't have much to add with regards to my amazing ability to cultivate charity (catch the sarcasm?), but I do recall a quote I read in Visiting Teaching message from June of 06. It was given by Marvin J. Ashton. The whole article is awesome but this is my favorite part: "Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don’t judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give each other the benefit of the doubt or remain quiet. Charity is accepting someone’s differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings; having patience with someone who has let us down; or resisting the impulse to become offended. … Charity is refusing to take advantage of another’s weakness and being willing to forgive someone who has hurt us. Charity is expecting the best of each other” (“The Tongue Can Be a Sharp Sword,” Ensign, May 1992, 18–19) I had a bishop in Las Vegas that was the most amazing example of this. My father in law (who happened to live in our ward at the time) tends to be an attention hog and has problems with lying and exaggerating to no end. Watching our bishop around him was amazing. EVERYTHING that he ever said to my father in law was with love. It's not like he was blinded by the lies he told, but he just knew better and still showed him love anyway. I struggle with these same things too Trish - from listening to a testimony meeting and wanting to roll my eyes to not cutting people enough slack. I need be better at assuming that everyone is doing the best they can under their own circumstances - about which I may or may not have any clue. So if nothing else, just know that you're not alone and that as long as you're trying, you're not failing. And I totally agree with Wanderer about laughter. Some of the best friends I've made have been found through moments when we could laugh together. It's hard to stay depressed around someone who seems like they're not. They bring you up to their level. Goodness knows that you have a gift for making people laugh Trish. You're awesome! Here's the link to Elder Ashton's talk: http://www.lds.org/ldsorg/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=2354fccf2b7db010VgnVCM1000004d82620aRCRD&locale=0&sourceId=5ad094bf3938b010VgnVCM1000004d82620a____&hideNav=1

I dont think that's a strech Lby. The empty tomb is exactly what I thought it was, especially because the stone on the left is rounded - the whole stone being rolled away thing. Maybe a replica from a movie or pagent or something with metal encasing to enable rolling? I'm positive that's what it's mean to represent, but I can totally see what you see Elph and it's hilarious. Whoever chose it will be smacking their forehead for sure!

I don't have many personal stories about my verbal adventures with my son (he's only 17 months), but I do have one to share from being a Primary Teacher. A year or two ago, they started teaching the Primary kids a song called "Scripture Power". Being familiar with the song will probably help you appreciate this. Anyway, the start of the verses sounds A LOT like "Can You Feel The Love Tonight" from the Lion King. I made the mistake of pointing it out to my class of 9 & 10 year olds. For the rest of the year they started it like this: "I can see what's happening," "What?" "And they don't have a clue," "Who?" "They'll fall in love and here's the bottom line, our trio's down to two." "Oh..." I doubt that our music director appreciated it very much, but I couldn't help but laugh. I swear I'm working on my reverence.

I guess I don't want to be the one to spoil it for Rebky, so I'll omit names. I didn't think I'd care much about this season - I usually don't get addicted to any show even if I like watching it, but can I tell you how happy I was when THAT person was voted off? I know that if it was up to the network, they wouldn't have wanted that outcome, but whatever. I'm glad I don’t have to watch them and contribute to making them a reality tv "star".