CourtneyP

Way to go! :)

I think you are doing a good thing by reading your scriptures and praying, seeking the Lord's advice. :) Great job! Just keep your heart open to the influence of the spirit and you'll be fine.

1. I joined to be able to have meaningful discussions with other LDS members about the church. 2. I joined to meet with other LDS members and share our experiences and testimonies. 3. I was looking for a forum that was strictly LDS where people wouldn't bash me because of my beliefs.

PaPa, I am originally from Georgia! COOL! :) Grew up in Sharpsburg, which is near Newnan. Nice to see a fellow Georgian here!

Hi and welcome! :)

Last Sunday there was a speaker who gave a talk on tithes and offerings. I honestly have no idea how I am going to manage tithing without adding another job. I guess it's best for me to turn things over to God and see what happens.

Oh that would be wonderful sister! I shall pray for you!

Oh, if I could play them altogether I'd have my own stage show! Hahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!! In college we had to learn the basics of most instruments, since we were all hoping to become band teachers one day. That's how I learned them. :)

Thomas did not go with me but he was cool with me going. :) I majored in music education in my college back in Georgia. I was 5 classes away from my degree when I got pregnant with my daughter and had to drop out of school. My main instrument is flute, but I also play piano, clarinet, saxophone, tenor sax, bass clarinet, piccolo, French horn, and a little bit of violin.

Oh, I must have left out the fact that he had told everyone that we were official when we were not.

I can understand your situation, Katya. I am LDS and my husband is not. But he respects my choice and I respect his. I still have hopes that he will come to agree with my beliefs and one day ask to take the missionary discussions and join, but I am not pressuring him to do that. If he ever wants to, I will support him completely! But if not, I still love him as he is and will accept him as a loving husband and soon-to-be great dad! :)

The church itself isn't doing the asking. God is the one doing the asking. Who are we to tell Him that he asks too much of us? "If ye love me, keep my commandments." Just something to think about. I would just advise you to pray with an open mind and open heart. It just seems to me that you are fighting the Spirit and trying to come up with reasons why not to do what is asked of us. Garments, marriage to your girlfriend, etc. Take each item one step at a time and the rest will fall in line.

Your journey is amazing sister! And congrats to your son in his baptism! :) I will pray for your family, that the others are receptive to the influence of the Spirit and shall come to share your feelings.

Well, I made it there this morning. Oh it was so nice to be back! I got there about 10 minutes before the start of Sacrament meeting. I parked my car and walked in the door and found myself face to face with our ward's missionaries. They shook my hand and I talked to them for a bit, letting them know who I was and that I'd been inactive for 10 years. Well one of the missionaries happened to be from a town not too far away from my hometown in Georgia, so that was very cool! I sat with them during the service and they introduced me to the bishop afterwards. I spent most of the sunday School hour telling the bishop about my last 10 years. He was so super nice and helpful and listened. He didn't make any judgments or chide me for my shortcomings in life, which was very cool! He also asked me if i would be interested in serving a calling within the ward and I said that I would. He also gave me a new set of scriptures, which was totally awesome! And I let him know that if they ever needed any musical assistance that I was a musician. At that, his eyes grew wide and he said, "Really?" I told him yes and what instruments I play. He grinned and said, "Sister, you are the answer to our ward's prayers! We are in dire need of people with musical ability!" How cool is that? On a side note, the missionaries are coming over to meet with me and my husband next Friday evening at 6:30PM. It should be fun and provide others who can help assure my husband that I haven't lost my mind in wanting to return to church. :)

Wow, you're in a tough situation. I'd definitely talk with the stake president and see what he has to say.

Thanks! :) I do appreciate it!

Nope. Honestly it was called the Stake Center when I was active 10 years ago. And I was 18 at the time, which is certainly more than a twinkle in my dad's eye.

Although I am now married, I can remember being in the single boat. And one of the problems I had was guys getting way too attached immediately. My first date with an LDS boy named Steven went very well. We went to a movie and then took a walk around the mall. No hand holding or kissing or hugging or anything physical. It was merely a movie and conversation getting to know one another. Well a few days later EVERYONE believed that we were an official couple. His grandmother even asked me about it one day. I mean holy moly, it was a one time date, not a marriage proposal!

I remember being a Mormon teen. It was great! After finding the church, I became close to some great people who became great friends of mine. Your friends are there to help you during times of temptation and you are there to help and support them as well. Being a Mormon teen isn't constricting. It's freedom! You aren't trapped by the vices of this world like drugs and alcohol like some other folks are. You are set apart and people actually have more respect for you because you don't cave and follow the rest of them like a sheep. :)

Well kona, I don't know about you but I am one of those people who wants the best out of life, and subsequently I want the best out of eternal life too. For example, on this world I could choose to live in a 1 bedroom apartment and exist just fine. But life was so much better for me and my husband when we bought a house. We moved up in the world and we like it better. Heaven is no different in the concept. Sure, the telestial and terrestrial kingsoms are way better than anything we've ever seen on this earth. But they are nothing in comparison to the celestial kingdom. That's our goal: to get there and be with God, who lives there. I personally want the best and will do what I can to be the best I can be. How about you?

Caffeine is a dreadful drug for me. It causes migraines for me and I avoid it like the plague. It makes it difficult when going out for dinner sometimes in the lack of drink options that are caffeine free. Whether the word of wisdom prohibits caffeine or not, I won't drink it. Evil stuff, really. I still plan to ask the bishop about the herbal tea option when I go to church tomorrow.

On my way home from work today I called the phone number the church headquarters gave me for my new bishop. I've tried to call a couple of times before but always got the answering machine. Well this time he answered. He seems like a very nice person. I told him who I was and that I had been inactive for about 10 years and was ready to come back to church. He was so happy to hear from me and I gave him all of my information that he needed to obtain my records from the church. I am definitely going tomorrow morning. Sacrament meeting starts at 9:00AM and my husband said he'd go with me. I also told him where I lived and he mentioned that there are several members in the ward who live in my town! And one couple he mentioned I already know but never knew they were LDS! How cool is that? :)He also asked if I would have some time to meet with him after Sacrament meeting to discuss some things. I am sure he is going to want to know why I left and why I am returning. But for some reason I am not nervous about it anymore. I am ready and excited for tomorrow!

Not to be harsh, but it sounds to me like she's using you, honestly. She's the one living off the government and you supporting her and paying all the bills. You want to make things right and get married and join the church. She seems to be having trouble overcoming her sins and is too dependent on the government money to make ends meet. If I may ask, why can't she go out and get a job? There are some jobs that can be done from home as well that she might want to look into to become truly self-reliant and not depend on Uncle Sam to spot her the money. Yes, you are stuck in a hard place. But the only way out when you're at the bottom is to go back up again. Let her know of your desire to join the church and let her know that you want her to come with you. Both of you can talk to the Bishop and figure out a solution. I promise, it can be done. :)

Me too. *nods*

Bowling and mini-golf are excellent suggestions! However, if she's not an active, sports-like type you could make a picnic and go out to a pretty lake or park and share a meal and some good conversation. The big thing of importance on a first date is to get the opportunity to gauge that other person and learn about their likes and dislikes. For example, if you go out and during your talks you learn that she's a fan of art, then take her to an art museum on your second date. Or if she happens to really like horses, go horseback riding the next time around. She in turn will appreciate the fact that you payed attention to the things she likes. :)