mnn727

On a more serious note, You can put one together with stuff your cat would actually need much cheaper. We have a couple of collaspable carriers to hold the animals in and food/water for them in our 72 hour kits. We always keep 4 or 5 boxes of litter in the garage, so it would take only a few seconds to grab one or 2 and toss thm in the vehicle. Cat and dog leashes by the door.

This is something official - you need to talk to your Bishop to start the process. There is one Patriarch per stake authorized to give a Patriarchal blessing. Once you get the paperwork (recommend) from your Bishop you then call and make an appointment with the Pagtriarch (the Bishop will fill you in on the procedure) Its not like a blessing of health or comfort than any Priesthood holder can give.

Do you think its also barbaric to put a dangerous dog down? one that has been known to maim and/or kill?If not, then whats the difference? A murderer (which is the only crime punishable by death by civilian law in the U.S.) has lost their right to live. Why should I have to support them in jail for the rest of their natural lives?

That could be, as an adult convert myself, mine seemed pretty generic even (dare I say it) kind of disappointing. Nevertheless, pull yours out once a year and re-read it, you may find additional meaning you did not realize at the time. (You will get a copy mailed to you from the Church) I've gotten some additional insigt doing that.

I think a better way to have put it was that they celebrate His death as the 'be all' and 'end all' of his mission. While it was a necessary part, it certainly was not the defining moment. Many people have died for their beliefs, but only Jesus took upon Himself the sins of the world and then was resurrected after His death.If there was a way to portray an empty tomb that would be easily recognizable, I think that would be a better symbol.

And were you disfellowshipped when you got it?Thats the OP's situation.

So, how did it go?

Being there are only the 2 of us, we'll watch a few talks on TV while its happening but DVR the rest and use for FHE over the next couple months. I will make it to PH Session at the Stake Center

You just missed the Undeerwear Run (warning photo of people in underwear, boxers, bathing suits, etc -- no nudity). Utah underwear run held to protest laws that are ‘uptight’ (photos, video) - BlogPost - The Washington Post

That varies so much, some Wards are friendlier than others, and some members are friendlier than others. I have found that if you are open and outgoing others will be also.Once we moved to a new Ward that we just didn't fit into, don't get me wrong, people were friendly at Church, but that was about it. We decided to start inviting people over for dinner on weekends or even just desert, it wasn't long before we fit in.

I believe they are trying to promote brotherhood.

What constitutes a Testimony? For me as an adult convert I was studying and praying about that I was being taught, eventually the Holy Ghost testified to me. Now I was a hard case that took over a year before recognizing my testimony and needed a spiritual kick in the pants so to speak. In my case it was a voice, It was undeniable. Its really hard to describe when you know something and its not from within, not of your own knowledge, yet with such force and power. Words don't do it justice and I know for someone else thats not too satisfying of a description. Thats probably why your having a hard time getting a feel for what a testimony is.These days spiritual confirmations I get are more of a peaceful feeling. Let me ask you, how would you feel if you really knew God was speaking to you, that you had no doubt He was talking specifically to you? Yeah, thats a testimony, kinda of thrilling and scarey and awe inspiring and a hundred other emotions all at the same time. Now how do you describe it to others? As far as a 'burning in the bosom' the only time I ever got that was when I ate my cousins chili -- way too many jalapenos.

2nd coming will not be to just a few. They will be many signs and all will see him. Sorry about your Sister.

If you are cooking with wine 90% of the time you are not simmering, you are sauteing at high heat. Yes there are exceptions but they are few.

No offense meant but I am a trained Professional Chef that cooked and managed restaurants professionally for 25 years (although retired from the business now) and I can tell you that if used properly; between 85% and 95% of the alcohol DOES evaporate. Now that does mean that 5%-15% of it remains and that's what causes some Mormons a problem. Personally, that's such a diluted number (compared to the entire meal) that it doesn't bother me. Assume I use 4 oz of wine in a meal meant for 4 people. Assuming a 4% alcohal content that means I start with .16 oz of alcohol then I burn off a minimum of 85% (leaving 15% max) meaning there is .024 oz of alcohol divided between 4 servings leaving .006 oz per person -- divide an ounce into 1000 parts and then give each person 6 of them. What is that, about a quarter of a drop per person maybe? Frankly you'd get more alcohol walking on a sidewalk in front of a bar and inhaling.

OK, I have not read all the answers, so someone may have covered this. 1. about the garment, you can get them special ordered to your exact sizes, I do this myself as I am not a 'standard' size - you will need to call the distribution center and they will tell you which measurements they need and then it does take about 6 weeks to get them. They keep the measurements on file for 2 years so if your measurments don't change you can just call them for a re-order. 2. About the weirdness -- I felt the exact thing the first times I went through. Why? because no one told me how symbolic the endowment is. To this day I personally feel the symbolism should be updated. Remember though the symbolism is not the endowment, the Covenants are the endowment. I think the reason that the symbolism throws some people is that in the Church we use very little symbolism and in fact we tend to at least superficially be against symbolism and then all of a sudden you get 99% symbolism in the Temple. My advice is to continue to go through the Temple as often as you can, really listen to what is said and done, and then pray about it, search the scriptures, read about symbolism.

But thats not our call, we don't have the right to judge his place in the eternities. We just don't know why he did what he did, to me at least, no rational man would have done the things he caused to be done, was he mentally ill? I don't know, he did some crazy things, perhaps he wasn't mentally responsible for his actions. I am certainly willing to let God make the judgement on where he ends up since God knows a whole lot more than I do about Hitlers (and everyone elses) motivation. God knows a persons mind and their heart - I don't so while I can hate what Hitler did, I have to leave the final judgement up to God and not try to tell God what to do based on my limited knowledge. D&C 64:10 I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men. 3 Ne. 13: 14-15 14 For, if ye forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you; 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. I just don't have time to not forgive others of their sins, because I need God to forgive me of mine. Something for you to think about.

very important I can't emphasize this aspect enough. I sure wish someone had told me this before I went. The rituals are not the important thing, they are there to emphasize the Covenants.Seriously though it took me a long time to come to terms with the ritual parts -- not that there is anything bad - there's not, but just that everything else in the Church is so 'matter-of-fact' and unritualistic that it threw me at first. Edited to add: I didn't read that you came from a Catholic and Jewish background - you should be fine with the ritual aspects - I came from a Protestant background - so almost no ritual at all. One thing to remember - Don't fall off the goat. just kidding............ its ok if you do. Just kidding, its what my wifes best friend told her just as she was walking into the Temple for the first time -- I laughed so hard I'm sure anyone that heard me was trying to fgure out what was going on.

One thing I do want to point out before this thread goes any further is that the Journal of Discourses, while wonderful for historical insight, has never been cannonized. I for one will never discuss things people "found" in the JoD when they use that material to tell us what we believe. <<stepping off of my soapbox now>>

No, its much cheaper in most cases, there are a few exceptions.In TX and many other states any body kept 3 days past death by law my be embalmed, so you would need to do it before teh 3rd day to avoid embalming expense. Also, if you chose a real coffin, rather than a cremation coffin (rough wood or even cardboard) you would have that expense also.

Extreme Drought Thats the myth. I doubt it though. Worldwide no rain during a time when the sun is shining (which is when a rainbow occurs) for an entire year? seems unlikely to me.

Kaynes explaination (post 3) reflects much 19th Century Protestant thought on the matter of the Jews. However nothing in actual Mormon Doctrine supports his/her views. Although many 19th Century Mormons including some Apostles dragged their old Protestant ideas with them when they converted. (remember all of the early members including Apostles were Converts) As far as 2 and 3 Kaynes thoughts are also very old on this matter. Let me share what Apostle Bruce R McConkie said after the ban was lifted in 1978:

I haven't had one for 2 months now after finally being released as Ward Exec Secretary, I'm enjoying the break. Relax, they'll find you. Concentrate on your HT/VT

Since I don't believe in ghosts, it would be a waste of my time to watch something like this.

LDSEastCoast I don't know how old you are, how long you've been a member, or what your background is -- but you really need to lighten up. Especially as a new member of this board - you're not making any friends like this. You may not know this but in areas of heavy LDS populations (and NOT just Utah) multiple Wards exist in the same building and also some buildings do not have Satallite. My Texas building has 3 wards and a Branch that attend there, combined average Sacrament attendance is about 600 - 650, now we could fit that many people mostly on unpadded metal folding chairs (which we have) in the cultural hall 100 - 150 feet away from the screen located in the chapel, but frankly unpadded metal folding chairs for 2 hours at a time do not invite The Spirit IMHO. In low LDS population areas, like where I joined the Church 19 years ago, some members may have to drive 100 miles or more to get to the nearest chapel with satallite. Your statement that people are lazy because they watch from home is not only contentious and judgemental - its also naive ....... not to mention it's just plain wrong!