confusedgirl1985

I grew up right next to a field and lots of mice hanging around, so I think I can help out with this one! Your best bet is the peanut butter solution and not to sound insensitive but it would probably be in your best interest not to release the mouse anywhere near your house if you catch him because they have a tendency to come back :S. Who can blame them right? . But keeping it as a pet may not be the best idea seeing as they can sometimes carry diseases. Are you sure there's two or is it just the same one, different place?

I love this idea! The more I read of the Book of Morman the more I wonder, what are we fighting about? We're all hoping for the same things. What a great effort, we need more open minded people like yourself.

Thank you to both of you. Six that's very sound advice and I definately wouldn't change my faith as a result of this boy. However, he has provoked interest in the church and a greater understanding of the true meaning of it. I have talked to missionaries a bit but never converted because I've always had too many questions, but I think spirituality is a journey and maybe someday I might find truth in the LDS religion. I'm also open to other religion, although as I've said I am Christian and believe in Christ as our savior. I suppose I also understand the purpose of a mission and the need for lack of distraction. However, it doesn't make it feel much better from an outsider's perspective. An LDS friend and I discussed this and the fact that she felt it was probably a little different for me because I had never been prepared for such an event, as much as she had always known many of her close friends would leave. I know however, it's hard on him too, he's a very helpful person and although he says he feels guilty about it, he says he worries often about me particularly when I don't respond quickly. But thank you so much for an inside perspective, it is greatly appreciated. Also thank you again to the prison chaplain, It is good to be reminded of forgiveness in the Bible, even in extreme cases. I guess sometimes it's hard to remember the strength of the Lord's forgiveness and the fact that his love for us must be incredible, as he did give his only son so that we may have eternal life. I also found the ideas of the Christian youth workers interesting. I guess I never considered that option. It's definately something I'll have to look into.

First off, thank you so much for responding, and it doesn't matter that you're not LDS, I'm glad to listen to any input that anyone has to offer with an open mind. I definately see your point in approaching this matter and it is, of course something I have struggled with myself. As my parents have advised me in this friendship as well as a close family friend who is a pastor, I realize how important faith can be when approaching the subject of dating someone seriously. Although, as I said dating is not really the issue in the present time, if he's interested when he gets home, I would be interested as well. You make some very valid points when you talk about the LDS belief of eternal marriage as a definate obstacle for us. In fact I would consider it one of the most major obstacles. It's something he and I have discuessed and something I wouldn't ask him to give up. However, it's something he has voluntarily considered to forgo if our relationship was ever to get to that point. I don't know however if I could allow that, so that part of this situation, is of course a little more than shaky. I do, however, find that our similarities in values far out way our differences except for on details concerning specifically faith. We believe in similar childrearing ideals and our attitudes concerning important issues such as morality and marriage. As for conversion, I have certainly considered it, although he has never asked it, as I stated. I do see some truth in the gospel presented by the LDS church, but I'm still researching it and want to be certain it's the right choice made for the right reasons before converting. As you know I'm sure, there are strong reasons for accepting it as a part of your faith or choosing not to accept it, so that's all very confusing. As well as the fact that my parents don't quite view the LDS church the way I do. Don't get me wrong they respect the beliefs, but from our discussions I get the feeling they would be upset if I converted. More importantly however, I guess on a general Christian level, I'm asking is there room in Christianity for forgiveness? I've read the Bible and also parts of the Book of Morman and although they preach repentence and forgiveness, that is often not the view I run into from many members of any church. I truly do believe that I have repented with my full heart, and truly hope God can forgive me. However, I've never been much of a church goer and it makes me wonder if it's not enough. I am also baptised, which the faith I was raised in promotes as a gateway to salvation. I just wonder if it's possible that someday I will forgive myself and that my friend could forgive me as well. I was also thinking, and this is directed more to the forum and not as a response, that I wasn't quite clear in my first post so I wanted to clarify: I guess the second issue is that I'm struggling to understand LDS missions. I understand the incredible devotion to faith. However, not being raised in the religion or a climate that prepares me for this time I'm struggling to understand why they need to be so far away from family and friends with limited means of communication. Please don't take that as an insult, I'm just asking with an open mind and searching for answers

My best friend is an amazing person who I've always been able to share everything with... that is until recently. See he's LDS and I am not, maybe I shouldn't be a part of this forum for that reason but I didn't know where else to turn, it seems like no one outside of the faith can truly help me. My best friend and I share a very unique friendship, we met when we were sixteen and seventeen years old, and I am now twenty two and he is twenty one. After being very close for two years we began to have very strong feelings for each other and fell in love. Unfortunately the timing was off and he began to feel very strongly that he was being called to his mission. He applied for his papers and left for his mission in the spring of 2006. He is one of the missionaries who is very devout and being a just and fair person we decided it was better if I didn't wait for him because we needed to truly devote this time to our own growth. I really wanted to understand his motivation and be supportive and I certainly have always given him this impression because I dearly love him, but as selfish and horrible as it is I've always felt sort of abandoned because we can't talk. This was only perpetuated when monthes after he left I was involved in a life threatening accident twenty miles outside of his hometown. I feel like after that I lost my balance because I couldn't understand why God would take my rock away from me in a time of great need and confusion. I then began what I think was subconcious rebellion I drank a lot and engaged in very inappropriate relationships with men. All of which I feel very shameful for now. I've repented to God and even written to my best friend about some of the things I've done, but I worry a lot about forgiveness. I wonder if God can forgive me for my indiscretions and for my lack of faith and I worry that my best friend will not forgive or love me if he finds out what I've done. I feel as though I can't forgive myself. I don't know what to do, I want him to have an accurate picture of me and want to confess what I've done wrong to him because I know it effects him but I'm afraid it will change his opinion of me and I will lose a very important person in my life. He's always said he would never think less of me for the things I've done and I feel like this is a test. Further more, in the last two years since he left although I struggled I've had some very strong spiritual dreams involving him and involving myself and I don't know what they mean. He told me to pray about them but I have and feel I'm getting no response. I need help understanding this situation and help to understand if the LDS religion could even forgive me of my actions, because I do find some truth in the scriptures but don't want to be turned out or shunned for my past indiscretions. Please help.