Tough Grits

Personally, I think that from the moment the sperm successfully penetrates the egg...life is created (formed, jump-started, etc.). IMHO, the spirit is quickened at that very moment, because there are spirits already lined up and waiting for a body and a chance to come to earth and prove themselves herewith. Some within our Church have even expressed that they believe that spirits choose whom they wish to be their parents. I am not sure about that, myself. It is a nice thought. It is humbling to me to think that RyRy and Bubba actually chose me to be their mom and wanted to be in our little family. It is a cool thought...one day all will be made manifest unto us. Until then, we can only enjoy idle speculation. Okay, what about the flesh question, and the weight of the earth question??????

I have always wondered... Is this not the same as human procreation...in the sense that my husband and I did not create the spirits that came with the bodies of our daughter and son into the world. Their spirits had already been living in the pre-mortal world and had been merely made to "quicken" within the embryo within the womb. That part I get. That is how Heavenly Father is the father of all our Spirits, because He allowed the embryos within a mother's womb to quicken with a spirit from the pre-mortal world. What about the flesh itself? If nothing is created, and everything is organized...then what about the flesh of the embryo itself? Where does that flesh come from? Just wondering. This has nothing to do with my faith or testimony...I am just curious to see what others have to offer up on the matter. I read a little trivia thing once, that said that the earth weighs "such and such" more now than it ever has. How is that possible? Man cannot create anything. Everything we "create" is merely formed from another substance that already existed...right? So, why would the world weigh more now than it ever has? Isn't that weird? My husband explained it to me...but I still thought it was weird.

Pam, you won't believe this, but...my husband and I made a raised bed a few months ago. Well, we have had the cross-ties laid out in a rectangle for over a year, but we had just not gotten around to filling it yet with compost or dirt. Well, a couple of months ago we finally filled it with some REALLY good compost. Anyway, being tight on funds and short on time...we have not yet planted any seeds or veggies. I was outside watering one day, and I wondered why Heavenly Father couldn't just let some good seed blow into the raised bed so that we could have something growing. Guess what? Yesterday I went out there to pull some weeds that I saw growing in the raised bed. I actually found 3 healthy plants growing among the few weeds. Guess what the plants were???? Watermelon vines!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have three beautiful watermelon plants growing in my raised bed. How awesome is that? LOL LOL I also have some blackberry bushes growing at one end, but that is not miraculous...as blackberry bushes grow EVERYWHERE in our yard, along the ditches, etc. They are as prevalent (and pesky) as mosquitoes here in southern Georgia!!! LOL LOL There are some things that never need to be done in moderation: * expressing gratitude * service * giving love * offering a kind word * mourning with those that mourn * comforting those in need * following the Spirit * thinking of our Savior's sacrifice and love * talking to our Heavenly Father in prayer That is just a few...I am sure that there are MANY MANY more.

A: They actually sell them at Wal-Mart, and my kids LOVE them. They are just little cinnamon, dog-treat shaped cookies. No telling what the original on the series tasted like though!!!! Q: Have you ever eaten a real dog treat? (I have LOL LOL)

Well, I am disappointed...but I understand why they did what they did. Those who have read the Chronicles of Narnia, know that the series actually begins with The Magician's Nephew. It all begins with Digory and then Polly. Now, that would have been a GREAT movie. Some of the scenes from The Magician's Nephew would have been awesome to see on the big screen. Also, I find such a depth of spirituality in the first book. Aslan is so strong and beautiful in this book. I love it when he calls the children daughters of Even and sons of Adam. Also, isn't this the book in which we can "see" a world being born? How beautiful is that? Oh, and what about The Last Battle? How about the ending? It has been mentioned within this thread about all needing to move upward and inward. Did you also notice how C.S. Lewis laid out "Heaven"? Each world that had been created had their own space in heaven, and though they were separated (like great continents) they were connected. I think of: Moses 1: 33, 35 33 And worlds without number have I created; and I also created them for mine own purpose; and by the Son I created them, which is mine Only Begotten. • • • 35 But only an account of this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, give I unto you. For behold, there are many worlds that have passed away by the word of my power. And there are many that now stand, and innumerable are they unto man; but all things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I know them. How about the very last page of the very last book in the Chronicles of Narnia? The Last Battle, page 228, C.S. Lewis: "...The dream is ended: This is the morning." (I think of the morning of the first resurrection...see the scripture below) Mosiah 18: 9 9 Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life— The Last Battle, page 228, C.S. Lewis: "And as He spoke He no longer looked to them like a lion; but the things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them. And for us this is the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on forever: in which every chapter is better that the one before." How many times in the scriptures do we read of something similar to, "...but the things that began to happen after that were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them." ? There have been many times in the scriptures where there was more, but the person writing the account could write no more. Maybe there was not enough space on the plates or parchment, or maybe the Spirit directed them to write no more. Truly our life on earth is merely a chapter in a great book. However, I believe that the first chapter was the pre-mortal world. The second chapter is our life on earth. The next chapter will be the return of Christ and the ushering in of the millenium. After that will come the chapter on the Great and Final Judgement, and then so on and so on until infinity. C.S. Lewis was so close. What a beautiful testimony that man had. His books are truly worth reading. It really is his testimony and love of Christ that shines through in his writing. Yes, he had skill and talent to write, but without the strong testimony and spirit that he had it would not be nearly as powerful as it is. What a legacy. I have always wanted to write, but compared to him and many of the other General Authorities and members of the Church, nothing I could ever write would be as magnificent or powerful, or leave such a lasting legacy. So, I content myself in merely reading the works of others!

Ahhh, a thread about my favorite author! I read the Chronicles of Narnia when I was young. I cried when I finished the last book in the series. Those books and characters stuck with me throughout my life. Something about the story just touched me. It was not until after I joined the Church that I began reading C.S. Lewis' other writings. WOW. I then re-read the Chronicles of Narnia. Oh man. As awesome as that series was when I was young, it was even better with my new spiritual eyes (I converted to the Church when I was 24). I just have this unshakable feeling that he was one of the great and nobles ones from the pre-mortal world. He may not have found the Church while alive, but he was so spiritual and on point with so much of our own doctrine and principles...though he did not know it. Did you know that he is the most quoted non-member within our Church? He may be the most quoted altogether, but I am not sure about that. Books I own by C.S. Lewis: Chronicles of Narnia (5 out of 5 stars) Mere Christianity (5 out of 5 stars) The Great Divorce (3 out of 5 stars) The Screwtape Letters (5 out of 5 stars) A Grief Observed --- have not read it yet The Joyful Christian --- have not read it yet Miracles --- have not read it yet The Problem of Pain --- have not read it yet The Weight of Glory --- have not read it yet --------------------------------------------------- Listener, I liked The Great Divorce...and I did pick up on much that parallels the Church...as with much of the writings of Lewis. However, I gave it 3 stars out of 5, because it was a story about what happens after death. Although I got the point and message of the book, some elements of the story are not exactly as I picture our beliefs manifested into a story. Still, that is just my humble opinion. The book is still VERY much worth reading, and he still hits the nail on the head more often than not...especially for somebody who was never a member of our Church. I have a Book Reading Journal. I have notes on all the books above that I have read. I have made notes and highlighted in every book by Lewis that I have read. He is interesting, insightful, witty, humorous, spiritual, and wise. I look forward to meeting him in the Spirit World. Of course, I may not be worthy to be near somebody like him...but I will still try!!!! LOL LOL I may be wrong, but I think he was not aligned with any Church for most of his life...until he joined the Church of England. I could be wrong. If anybody wants to exchange notes on any of the above books that we have read in common, please let me know!

A: Because the Trix rabbit knows that leprechauns cannot be trusted!!!! Q: Does anybody else think that it is weird for Shaggy to be eating all those Scooby treats?

A: Because General Mills thinks it's funny to torture a cute rabbit, by not allowing him to have even a bite of Trix. HMPH! Q: Why doesn't that Trix rabbit just call up his cousin, Bugs Bunny, and hatch a plan to foil those kids from keeping the Trix from him???????

LOL...okay...thanks...

My father was agnostic. I thought my mother was too. My aunt and her little family were religious, but I did not know what they were. All I knew was that she was mean to me as a kid (let's not talk about whether or not I deserved it!!! LOL LOL), so I didn't really think Church was doing much for her. LOL LOL Well, when I was twelve I went on a road trip with my aunt (my mother's sister) and her little family. We drove from Georgia to Utah. It was a fun trip with my cousins. My mother had given me a Polaroid camera to take on the trip. I still have the pics that I took. We visited a cool jail on our trip. I have a pic of my cousins sitting in the cell of the jail on the second floor. I also have a really cool pic of an awesome building at night with beautiful lights shining up to the top spires. In fact, we were in Utah when I took the pic of the spiritual "building". As I stood outside the fence along the highway and looked at the beautiful building, I felt a shiver go up my spine. For some reason, I was impressed that I should never forget that moment. There was something special about that building. I knew, even at 12, that I would never forget the sight of that building at night or the feeling I had as I stood outside the fence looking at it. Fast forward 12 years...I moved to Georgia when I was 24. I moved in with my grandmother. I arrived in Sept/Oct. of 1998. At this point I learned that my aunt and my cousins were Mormon. I found out that my grandparents were too. I didn't even know what Mormon meant. I asked my cousin Chad one day, and he handed me a copy of the Gospel Principles. Wow. I was in shock. As I read that manual, I couldn't believe the things that I read. Although I had been agnostic all my life, I had been searching for something. I had been exposed to many religions. My father's family, being Cuban, were Catholics. My best friend in High School, Paul, was Pentecostal. But I had never found what made sense to me. What I read in the Gospel Principles made sense. My sister had died when I was 8 (she had been 10). She had been born with spinebifida (SP?). She could not walk, use her arms/hands much, and she had mental impairments as well. But I had always known in my heart that when I saw her again (and I just knew that I would) that she would be whole, and not handicapped. Imagine my shock and joy upon reading about the resurrection, and how our bodies will be perfected. I was also humbled to read about how we could see each other again in the Spirit World, and even live together forever...based upon certain conditions. Another thing that I had believed all my life, was that we had somehow all known each other before. My father believed in reincarnation. Although I adored my father, and believed nearly everything he told me...I never believed in reincarnation. It just did not feel right to me. Imagine my elation when I read about the pre-mortal world! Well, I joined the Church a few weeks later. After my baptism, I learned that my own mother was Mormon too. She had just been inactive my whole life. I also learned that the trip I had gone on when I was 12 was more special than I had originally thought. That jail that we visited was Carthage Jail. The "building" that so overwhelmed me and whispered to me...I later found out was the Manti Temple. Life is strange, but wonderful...isn't it? My boss at that time was a counselor in the Stake Presidency...through him I found out that my own grandfather had baptized him and my aunt on the same day in a river. That is my conversion story. The story does not end there though. How I met my husband has just as many cool twists and turns, and more "coincidences" in it!!!!!

Something else came to me last night...the part of forgiving that involves forgetting. Now, this has always been something that has boggled me. How can we forget certain things? Didn't God give us these wonderful minds with the capacity to store and recall information so that we could learn from our mistakes, the mistakes of others, and from life in general? I have often wondered why or how it would even be possible to "forget" certain things that have happened to us. Well, last night the Spirit taught me a valuable lesson. A friend of mine hurt my feelings on Thursday and Friday, and crossed some lines that should not have been crossed. I was very low and depressed for much of yesterday afternoon and all night. It is not a matter of forgiveness...because I do forgive them, and I have already chalked it up to my friend just being stressed out and overwhelmed on the last few days of school. I love her, I like her, and I respect her. So, I have already made up my mind that what happened is not worth losing or damaging the relationship we have. So, what was my problem last night? Well, even though I had decided that I wanted to forgive her and move past it, I had not forgotten the incident. It was still too new in my mind. I kept replaying the events over and over. I knew that the more time that passed this weekend, the less and less I would replay the incident and events in my mind. But enduring through the long minutes and hours of it still being fresh in my mind was very difficult. Today, I have not replayed the incidents. I know what happened and how it happened, but I have not had to endure replaying the whole scene in my head again as if I were still there. I am hoping by tomorrow that what happened will be buried deeper in my mind and that recalling the information will be of no use to me. Maybe that is what it means to "forget". For me, forgetting means to choose not to replay the incident and to choose to let other happier moments come before the bad moments. I guess I have learned that, for me, forgetting does not mean purging all memory completely from our mind...it just means to quit reliving the moment over and over, because we cannot let go of that which we choose to relive and replay without ceasing. Maybe this all only makes sense to me, and maybe I have it all wrong...but that is what came to me last night and today as I thought of the situation. I truly want to forget, because I love her and value our friendship more than my pride. Maybe when things like this involve people I don't like and don't value a relationship with, it is much harder to be willing to suppress what happened. Indeed, I can see where I have replayed and relived moments with my "enemies" because I did not want to allow myself to let go of what they had done to me. I was choosing my pride and anger over letting go of the contention and animosity within myself. I guess it is harder to forgive those that we do not like and desire a relationship with, than it is with those that we like and absolutely want a relationship with. So, I guess my trial from now on will be to learn how to suppress what happened even when it involves my "enemies". That is going to be hard. We (I mean me here) like to hold on to the ammunition against those that have hurt us, wronged us, and persecuted us...especially if we don't like them anyway, or don't care about having a relationship with them. Hmmmm. I have much to think about. I think I need a nap now. LOL LOL

May Heavenly Father bless you as you protect us and serve your country. Welcome to the site. I hope that you will arrive home soon and safe!

Cool! Welcome to the site. I hope you enjoy it here.

A: We should invest all that we have...in God's kingdom. Q: Why did that annoying Road Runner always get the best of Wile E. Coyote?

Amen! LOL LOL Seriously, I agree. Love is a commandment...but trust and friendship have to be earned. Though trust can be lost and a friendship broken, love for that person can still abound. It is hard, because most of us (mostly me) find it too difficult to separate like from love. I am so afraid that if I am kind to my enemy, that they will take my love to mean that how they treat me is acceptable. So, if I am mean or if I ignore my enemy then they get the clear message that they are treating me poorly...right? Wrong. It just gives them more ammunition against me, and it makes me feel bad in the end anyway. I went through a major break-down in 2005. My husband and I moved away from a VERY traumatic and sad situation involving his own family. I thought those bridges would never be mended. The amount of hurt and pain that I had to endure and suffer was something that I thought I would never forgive. For three years I have stayed away. I had vowed that I would never come face-to-face with certain in-laws again. Well, this past Thanksgiving we traveled up to middle Georgia to be with my husband's family for the first time in three long years. I ran into the two main culprits of my heartache. I actually hugged them. That was a HUGE step for me. But it really wasn't that bad. My kindness towards them had more to do with me and my Spirit, than it did them. I do forgive them. I do love them. I do not like them. I do not want an intimate relationship with them. But I know in my heart that if they needed my help I would help them. So, I learned that my love and kindness towards them (by hugging them and talking with them) was a testimony of my faith. Because I was totally relying on the Spirit that day. I learned that in that moment in which I hugged them, I was not even concerned with what they thought. I was only concerned with what I felt...and that was Christ's love. I have finally healed. It did not happen in an instant. It took three years. Three years in which I had no contact with them. I am glad that I followed the Spirit and did what was right for me. Because when I hugged them on Thanksgiving Day, it was sincere and with love. It was not forced or false. There were some who were very critical of the decision that my husband and I made to move away and not return for even a visit during that three year period. But following the Spirit worked for me, and we all know that Heavenly Father works on His own timetable. He knew what was best for me, my husband, and all involved. I am very grateful that a wound that once was quite severe and painful, has now healed and has left only the barest of scars. I feel like I have truly come through that refiner's fire, and that I have come out just a slight bit better than when I went in!

I think the word "moderation" is what inspires me most. Yes, drugs, drinking, and smoking are bad for us. But what about all the other foods and drinks in our lives that can be bad as well? Moderation. I eat meat in moderation. Not just because of the WoW, but because I have not ever been a big meat-eater. I do eat chocolate now and then, and I like the occasional handful of chips, but I eat these things in moderation as well. I have just learned that if I have a problem with self-control with any particular food or drink...then I don't buy it or bring it into my home. Example: I could easily eat 4 or 5 glazed doughnuts in one sitting. So, I don't allow doughnuts in my house. It does not bother me, but my husband gets sad sometimes about not having doughnuts in the house. LOL LOL But I have to be honest. There are some things that I truly cannot moderate. Watermelon, pizza, and crablegs. Every summer I go through the same torturous ritual...I eat a whole watermelon in one sitting. Then I find myself writhing on the floor in pain. My husband no longer has sympathy. Mostly because he knows that as soon as the awful pain subsides, I go back and get more watermelon!!!!! I just can't seem to use moderation in eating watermelon. Yet, I still bring it into my home every summer. (SIGH) Seriously, there is a tremendous amount of wisdom in doing all things in moderation...not just the things we eat and drink. IMHO

A: Well, the Queen of hearts was still on a rampage after the knave stole her tarts. So, she placed him in charge of Operation: Unscrambling Humpty. He failed, and was later executed. Q: Why wasn't Peter (the Pumpkin eater) ever arrested for keeping his wife imprisoned in a pumpkin shell?

A: Daisy Q: Why did the dish and the spoon have to run away?

A: Sure, he lives over on Drury Lane. Q: Why did the cow jump over the moon?

Fascinating. I think the question is valid, and I think we all have to come to our own sense of what is true for us. Within the Church, we call this conversion. A person can be a member all their life...but at some point they must come to know the truth for themselves, separate and apart from what their parents taught them. How do we find truth? Does it really come down to religion vs. science? Hmm. I am not so sure. Because I believe that God is the creator of all things...including science. When a scientist has a hunch about something...what exactly is that "hunch"? What is that feeling that keeps them motivated to keep going to prove their theory despite opposition, hardship, and disbelief? Is that not the same for those who are religious? They believe something to be true. They have a hunch or feeling that they are right. They continue to explore and dig to find things that support their belief (scriptures, words of the Prophet, direction from leaders, etc.). What is that feeling inside their heart that confirms to them that they are on the right track? Within the Church, we call it the Spirit. For us, that IS fact. I trust the Spirit. I believe that the Spirit directs me and guides me. For me, it is the same as Heavenly Father Himself standing before me and talking to me and guiding me. I don't need to be in a lab. For me, the Spirit is as good as any test in a lab. Science is wonderful. I don't have a problem with science. But too much of it is based on theory. Even within science, there is much contention and disagreement on certain theories. The word theory is NOT synonymous with fact. Theory is merely a word to explain a highly educated guess or idea. That's all. And science has many, many theories. Yes, some things science says are "fact", but so much is merely theory. Science still can't prove how dinosaurs became extinct. But there are many theories. Too many times something has been documented as fact, only to later be changed or amended. I own several astronomy books, some say that Pluto is not a planet...others say that it is, or that it is a sub-planet. Who is right? As far as proof... I do not have proof that my husband is absolutely faithful. However, I do not have proof that he has ever cheated either. But my heart and spirit tell me that he is honest and faithful. I believe this. I trust him. I trust the feeling that I have. Why do I need to dig for "proof" either way, if I am content and all is well? Shouldn't my spirit be trusted to lead me in the right direction for me? Which goes back to my earlier words...for me, the Spirit is my proof. It works for me. I have a good life and I am happy. I lived most of my life as agnostic. I remember what it felt like to desire hard facts in regards to God and religion. I am not ashamed of myself for they way I used to be or the way I used to believe, but I now know something, I now feel something, that I never felt before. I no longer question who I am or where I came from. I believe that I have found my proof and I have found my answers. That is good enough for me. This is not a frivolous or dumb topic. It is very serious and very sacred. I do not condemn or ridicule those who are different than me. We all have our own minds and hearts. I love science...so many of the books that I buy from Scholastic Book Clubs through the elementary school are about earth, space, animals, etc. I want my children to know that they do not have to make a choice between religion and science. Heavenly Father organized this planet and all that surrounds it. Though we cannot ever begin to know all of the mysteries of the universe, for we do not have God's omniscience, that does not mean that we cannot appreciate science or the mysteries themselves. BTW: ever noticed how the word omniscience has "science" in it?

S-O-J!!!!!!! I have been thinking about you!!!! I am SO glad you found us! Yes, I am busy but maybe this summer won't be so bad. I will be off from work (the elementary school) so the only thing on my plate this summer is college. Isn't this site cool? I love all the extras. Glad to see you! Keep in touch!

WELCOME! I am a convert too (baptized Nov. 1998). I was agnostic before joining the Church. 10 years later I feel like I have always been LDS. I am now married and have two children. My husband and I were married/sealed in the Atlanta, GA Temple. Congrats!

Howdy!

Welcome!

A: Can my answer be a question? Oops, did that count? DOH Q: Can you sneeze without closing your eyes?