pushka

Awww Nate and Alli!! Congratulations on the arrival of Phineas!! He's gorgeous, and looks so cute in his little yellow mittens and his groovy stripy suit :) I hope that you have hours of fun and games with him over the coming years, and learn lots as you go along!! Good Luck and enjoy the ride :)

Hi Lan, I'm pleased that you received the article regarding the LDS church and mental health issues, perhaps showing your mum that article would be a place to start discussing your intentions? I can't think of anything else other than what others on here have posted. You can contact The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to send you a Book Of Mormon, or to have it delivered to you by the Missionaries if you wish, or you can ring your local chapel (there is also a chapel locator on that website) and ask for somebody to accompany you to church or to come to visit you at home if you wish, before you attend the chapel.. Good Luck with your search :)

Yes, that does sound like a broad generalisation, and yes, I'm sure there are many different reasons why all sorts of people leave the church, or leave any church for that matter.

At our RS meetings the President of RS makes announcements about any enrichment activities taking place over the coming weeks. A show of hands initially denotes how many sisters may be attending and which need transport, then a sheet of paper is passed around in the week or two before the event, so that those still needing transport to and from the even can list their contact details so the organisers can arrange things for them..perhaps this would be a good idea in your ward?

I tend to follow any reference to TCOJCLDS by Mormon if people look a little confused..last night a friend and I took a taxi to our local chapel, when we got out the driver asked us the name of the church...I prepared him by saying it was a long name, then said it and added ' or you could just say the LDS church or Mormon.' Hopefully he understood what I meant then..

Well, as most of you know I was never Baptised into the church 1st time around, when I attended from the age of 14 to 18..however, at the time that was mainly because I had to wait for my parents' permission to be Baptised, or wait till I was 18 to do it without their permission. I thought I had a strong testimony back then, in fact I'm pretty sure I did, however I was not strong enough to resist temptation and in the end it was that which led me to leave, with pressure from my non-member boyfriend of the time who later became my husband. During the 26 years I was away from the church I often thought about the inevitable day that I would return. For years I defended the church, I never thought it had done me any harm, but then I heard a few 'horror' stories and this altered my viewpoint a little, I wondered whether some of my depressive illness was caused by guilt from not being 'perfect', however I now know that that wasn't the church, that was me with my obsession at being the best I can be in anything I get involved with... I began to research the church on the internet in 2001, and briefly had lessons with the Missionaries again, however I was just full of questions and doubts, I wasn't ready to return, my testimony had disappeared, I was quite surprised by this. In 2003 I joined LDSTalk and started to read more about the church again, I began to see the church members as ordinary people with weaknesses just like my own, they seemed more human than I'd imagined them to be..than I was when I used to attend, lol. I finally returned to the church after much soulsearching and debate in January this year. I don't think I'm stronger in some respects than I was when I was in my teens, however I think I am in other respects, experience has taught me to believe in myself more and to be confident with my own decisions in life. I am happy to be back, I am happy to see old and new friends each week and to be a part of the culture and community of Mormonism. I am working on my Testimony by accepting challenges as a newly Baptised member, challenges such as organising a new members'/investigators' Family Home Evening at the local chapel..1st time tomorrow! I think I might stick around this time, lol :)

Hi Redbeard, Welcome to the site! :)

Well I haven't really got any extra time to prepare..I have no idea what I'm going to be talking about, just that it's gonna be some time in June..

Hey! Nobody said anything about the older women going for the younger men! LOL :) I'm in my mid 40's, but I'm attracted to men 10 or more years younger than myself, at the moment...there are some men my own age who appeal to me too, sometimes, but I can't help wanting a 'toy boy' lol..

sjdean, I had the feeling of being drawn back to the LDS church over the last 7 years...I occasionally thought about acting on that feeling, but with the influence of my friends I didn't return. However I joined this message board (LDStalk, as it was then), and began to read more about the church again. Last September I had one evening of an overwhelming urge to return to the church, to receive the BOM and any other literature I could get, I followed that 'drawing' feeling and ordered a copy of the BOM to be delivered to me by the Missionaries...by the time they brought it to me I'd lost my nerve again, so I just took the book and said I'd contact them when I was ready...It took me another 3 1/2 months to act again upon the feeling I'd had. I finally returned to the church in January this year, I'd never been a member before, never been baptised. I tried to find telephone numbers for some of my old friends at church, but couldn't, then one day I bumped into one of the people I'd been trying to contact, in a shop, and we chatted together and arranged to meet at church the following Sunday. Around 6 weeks later I was Baptised a member, I do still struggle to believe some doctrines, but I do have faith that I might begin to believe them more easily the more I attend church and have good, uplifting experiences there and with the members at other activities. Maybe you need to follow my lead and see how you feel after visiting the church a number of times...?

Thanks for the extra helpful posts Iggy and Willow. Yes Iggy, I am a little squeamish about picking out bugs, but as long as I know they're not harmful to us, I don't mind sifting them out...

Thank You Jenamarie!! You've solved my food storage puzzle :)

Over here we have Best Before dates on just about every item we purchase nowadays..I used to buy large packets of flour but didn't use it all very quickly, and eventually I noticed weevils appearing..also the Best Before date would probably be up before I used it..so how do you overcome these 2 problems when storing stuff like wheat and sugar? Do you have Best Before dates on your food products? How can you make these kinds of food items last decades?

We had an announcement at church the other week, saying that members aren't allowed to have the Missionaries over for a meal unless they can invite a non-member friend over to be taught by the Missionaries after the meal...In my case, I'm allowed to have them over for a meal at the moment because I'm still having New Member lessons from them..

The topic in Sacrament meeting was Service, various talks about how we can serve one another and God, and how we mustn't think that we cannot serve because of our circumstances, that there is a way for every one of us to serve, no matter how small it may seem. Gospel Principles class was about The Eternal Family, how to achieve it, how to bring the family members closer together thru various activities/family prayer/attendance at church etc. Relief Society was a discussion about Preach My Gospel and how it unites members and Missionaries. Two of the current Missionaries in our ward spoke about their faith and feelings while on Missions, and the discussion was aimed at members of the church being Missionaries themselves, in any situation, and how to support the Missionaries in our wards by fellowshipping with new members/investigators/introducing our friends to the Missionaries when the Missionaries visit our homes for meals.

I will do that Willow..we also had a RS lesson based on the book Preach My Gospel yesterday, and it was noted how useful that is for reference material for talks/lessons, I might pick the brains of the Missionaries too, in some areas.

I'm a little nervous, thinking of how long/short it's supposed to be and whether or not I'll steam thru it like a train, lol..I should be okay, I was trained as a telephonist and worked as such for 10 years, so I should be used to speaking to the public by now, let's just hope I understand the subject matter :)

Well Done to your daughter Willow!! I was approached and asked if I was ready to do a talk in Sacrament meeting yet, yesterday..I said okay, and I'm 'booked in' for June...I don't know what the topic will be yet and have been promised an Ensign article to help me prepare...should be fun, must be around 27 years since I last gave a talk in Church!!

I used to be Roman Catholic and when I was 10 I was confirmed into that church by the Bishop, by laying on of hands at the church Altar, along with my schoolfriends. We had previously received the Sacraments of our First Confession and First Holy Communion. I recall being a little overawed by the whole experiences..on receiving my First Holy Communion I didn't stand up and leave the Altar when I should have..a little embarrassing moment!

I think it's sad if you can't have decorations or the wedding march...

Thanks for making me smile Moksha...Martian Mormons, lol!! :)

Do you remember at least 1 line from the song, cos if you google that line it may bring up the song, or something similar..

sjdean..I recently returned to the LDS church after 26 years. I started off by ordering a copy of the BOM to be delivered to me by the Missionaries, via the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints website . They may take a few weeks to reach you if you do it that way tho, so it would probably be best to ring the Chapel on Tuesday evenings, between say 7pm and 9pm, as that is the night they usually have Youth activities going on..or anytime from around 9am till 10am on Sunday morning as there is normally a Ward Missionary meeting at that time, and other members are beginning to arrive at church for the 1st service anyway, so you're more likely to catch somebody to ask if they or the Missionaries will meet you outside the meeting house before the services begin. Good Luck, I hope you enjoy your 1st meeting :)

Hi Lozzy, I recently returned to my local ward after a 26 year gap. I wasn't baptised when I used to attend, so when I felt the urge to return this time I asked for a BOM to be delivered to my by Missionaries. Unfortunately, by the time they brought it I'd lost my nerve and didn't contact them again after taking the BOM from them..however, the feeling of wanting to return grew more and more, and my sister (who isn't LDS) also felt that I ought to return to the church as she was aware that I was once happy there..eventually I tried ringing the chapel to arrange to speak to the Bishop or anyone that was available, started trying to find old friends' phone numbers then bumped into one of those old friends in a local shop and just told her I wanted to come back to church. She arranged to meet me at the door the following Sunday morning and she mentioned my name to a few members so that they would recall who I was once they saw me...it was wonderful! Everyone was cheerful and glad to see me again...I soon made new friends too.. Of course I didn't have the extra troubles that you've had to contend with, and I'm really sorry to hear that you've gone thru so much and have not been able to talk about it with somebody suitable up till now. Willow made a great suggestion, about going to the Bishop and asking for counselling from the church...that is exactly what I was going to suggest you do for that part of your problem. Please don't hesitate any longer to contact either your Missionaries, or MTC (if you know where that is), or just to leave a message at the chapel you wish to attend, or with an old friend if you can..You will be accepted and eventually you will find that listening ear that you long for... Good Luck, I'm thinking about you :)

I'm a Single Adult...44, means I'm a geriatric!! LOL! Anybody got good ideas for us older SA's to meet others? :)