Tough Grits

From L. Tom Perry: "Each choice you and I make is a test of our agency. Whether we choose to be obedient or disobedient to the commandments of God is actually a choice between liberty and eternal life and captivity and death." "Sin will always be sin. Disobedience to the Lord's commandments will always deprive us of his blessings." "Men and women receive that agency as a gift from God, but their liberty in turn, their eternal happiness, comes from obedience to his law." "The restored gospel of Jesus Christ never wavers, nor should it's stakes and wards, it's families, nor it's individual members. We must not pick and choose which commandments we think are important to keep."

We read our scriptures as a family at night, before or after dinner together. We don't have a time limit. We read until we get to the next chapter or a change in thought or action within a chapter if it is a really long chapter. I have two children, so we spend a lot of time asking and answering questions. So, if I say that when we read together we can take between 30 to 45 minutes, it is not solid reading. There is plenty of discussion throughout. We are not perfect, though. There are nights that we miss occasionally. I also read scriptures to prepare for my Valiant class, and I read the lesson for Relief Society/Priesthood and any attached scriptures to that lesson. I also study the scriptures by topic--based on what is puzzling me or intriguing me at the time, and it is not necessarily daily. I don't know how much time I take personally. I guess it varies greatly from day to day and week to week. Personally, I think that the Spirit should be used to determine how often/much an individual or family should read/study. What works for one, may not work for another. I like reading the Book of Mormon verse by verse with my family, but as an individual, I like to study Church manuals and study the associated scripture to the manuals, and I like to study the scriptures by topic following the scripture "chains" within the footnotes. The two different styles of studying in my life work for me, but it may not be ideal for another.

Oh my gosh!

He was on fire today! Filled a whole page with his direct quotes! I have DVR, so I can pause and back-up as much as I need/want.

Thank you. I'll have to look into this. Alltel says that they do not, or can't, block numbers. Is that normal, or not?

Not that I know of. I used the word "precious" in that sentence to mean "of great worth". I don't have to like a person, or like how they treat me, to acknowlege that their spirit is precious. We are all God's children. You don't know me personally. I wish you did. I am not fake. I changed gears because I knew it was the right thing to do. My post was sincere and forthright. I do not like the way Dravin "speaks" to me, but that should NEVER prevent me from knowing that he is a precious spirit of God, and that arguing with him is not worth losing the Spirit. Period. Maybe I should ask Eowyn what she meant when she stated "Bless your heart" to me. I am not sure how she meant it or what it means...but if she is passing on cheerful thoughts and good blessings to me, then I will take it at face value! :) But at least you asked me. I appreciate that. ~TG

I use my personal cell for every contact I make in my position at the school I work at. Nearly everybody in my county, especially in the Hispanic community, has my cell #. I have never had a problem before now. Nowhere else can my information be accessed. Not that it matters, when I am freely handing it out all day long to my parents and the contacts I make in the community. Why do I give my number out so freely? I am only one of two people in my entire school that is bi-lingual, and I am the only one in my department who is bi-lingual. My contacts and parents cannot call the school and be transferred to my office number for two reasons, I am not in my office most of the time--as I am in classrooms working with my students--and the secretaries at the school do not speak Spanish, therefore that can't take messages for me. So, over the past five years I have had to give my personal cell out so that my parents, students, and contacts could leave me messages. I have told my boss that I will no longer be making home visits, until I figure out who this guy is.

Maybe it is all in the understanding or interpretation of the word "plan". I have two kids. I cannot make their choices for them, but I can guide them, instruct them, love them, and even discipline them on a unique, one-on-one basis. Some things are general, and not individualized. For example, no TV, computer, or gaming on school nights. Simple, easy. Rule applies to both kids with no individualization. However, there are other situations in which we do have to be individualized in our instruction, our interaction, and our discipline of our children. UGH. Not sure I adequately explained my thoughts. Trust me, my thoughts make so much sense in my head. Um...seriously? Be careful James, I just might trip you as we walk along on the strait and narrow. Just kidding with you! ~TG

Okay, I'll engage you... I think that we should not stray to the left or to the right when eating an Oreo. I think we should stick to the one and only true way of eating an Oreo...put the whole cookie in your mouth and eat it. Mmmm. WARNING: Please make sure you check your teeth after eating Oreos. Do not engage with other humans until you have removed all the black specks from your teeth.

Aww, shucks. Thanks Rameumptom!!

Well, then should I not tell you what I do to entire villages of gummy bears? (For those who do not know, gummy bears are rubbery candy in the shape of cute, delicious, happy little teddy bears. Mmmm.)

Thank you. I found the same thing true with my Cuban family. Maybe people just need something to be connected to, regardless of whether they "live and breathe" it.

I own most of his works. I even own the Space Trilogy. Most of his writing I find harmonious with my own beliefs. However, this series was not what I would have expected from C.S. Lewis. The first book wasn't so bad. The second book bothered me. The third book was not worth reading. Not that his writing was bad, it just did not strike a cord with much of what I knew to be true. It also did not strike a cord with what I thought I knew about C.S. Lewis. Still, he is one of my favorite authors.

Not sure how to spell it: The Croodes It was funny. The kids loved it. We had a gift card for the movie theater. They hadn't been to movie in years. Man, $47 dollars and change for 4 tickets, drinks, and popcorn. SHEESH

Ah, Miami. How I miss the food! Yes, Miami is a different culture. My Cuban side of the family, and many of the Cubans that I knew, were Catholic, but they did not participate. I often felt that it was simply another aspect of being Hispanic (Cuban specifically) to proclaim Catholicism as their religion, though they did not actually worship or participate. Still, they were good people. I loved both sets of my grandparents. I learned much from both sets, but I did not learn about religion from either one. Looking back, that may have been a good thing. I guess everything happened the way it was supposed to, for me to find and accept the gospel.

As I recall, I am the one who, "refuses to engage in back and forth". Ah, but you have reminded me of why I have refused to engage in back and forth with precious spirits such as yours. Thank you for that reminder, dear brother. I will not soon forget that I have no need to go back and forth with anybody. Those who wish to interact with me in a pleasant, harmonious manner have no trouble doing so. Those who do not, well, they have their place and their purpose too. The cheek is turned. The slate is clean. All is well. Thanks for your reminder, I truly appreciate it. Much love...Sister TG. :)

Alltel. Blackberry.

I think that you are intelligent. I think that you know how to use words. I think that you know exactly what I am saying to you. I think that you are choosing to continue your manner of interaction with me, despite the fact that it hasn't worked thus far. You did not type that you "thought" I was complaining. I cannot argue what you think. No, you STATED that I was complaining. That, I can absolutely argue. I was not complaining. I made an observationa and then followed it with a question. Using your logic, anybody and everybody who posts on this forum with an observation and question is complaining. Therefore, we should just close the forum and be done with it, so that all the "whiners" and "complainers" can have nothing to post about. I wonder why you even bother to participate in forums full of whiners and complainers who have the audacity to make observations, have opinions, and pose questions.

"Chastity and virtue are now, always have been, and always will be, most dear and precious above all things." ~David A. Bednar.

Thanks, I needed a laugh tonight. The cops offered that as an option, setting a "trap" for him...using me as bait. No way. I don't want him to actually see me...just in case all he knows about me is my name and cell number. If that's all he knows (my name/cell) then I want to leave it that way.

How do you block a number? Is it specific to cell carrier and/or phone type? Changing my cell is not an option. I use it for work and for personal. I have already changed my home phone to a private number because of somebody else...I refuse to change anything else. Hardheaded, I know.

He said my name on the voicemail he left for me. My name is not common. It cannot be a mistake. He has been calling and texting for over a month now.

Complaining? I asked a question. Loading down a word with connotative meaning? I love the word hyperbole. I wish you would learn to respond to me without having to throw in some kind of jab or verbal assault, which of course, is merely my opinion. If you don't like me, if you don't like my posts, if you don't like my questions, then why do you bother to read anything I write? It is seriously getting old. If you have something to say, then say it without all the other negative stuff or the assumptions on my thoughts, motives, or feelings.

Brother, you aren't far from the truth! Some people truly frighten and confuse this little cavegirl!! LOL I went from not believing in anything, to believing in what I believe to be the fullness of the Gospel upon the earth. Thank goodness I am still learning. Thank goodness I still feel the need to ask questions. Thank goodness I have not reached a point that I am beyond trying to understand things.

I might think that they really were what they claimed, I might think that they misunderstand the label they were giving themselves, I might think that they are trying to convince others and/or themselves of something that may or may not be true, and/or I might think that they are trying to impress others. I just don't know why my grandparents called themselves something that they were not. I guess, like PC eluded to, it made them feel better to have something to associate with, despite the fact that they were not actually practicing the label they claimed. Not sure if I answered your questions the way you intended in order to get your point. Nothing personal, Grumpy Bear, but I don't always "get" certain posters on this forum. I think some of us are so different in our thought processes and in our manner of expression, that we don't always "connect".