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Are Americans the only ones capable of composing stories with happy endings? PS: I tried mightily to resist making a joke about being finished with the Finnish story. This PS is the best I could manage....

I have felt very similar things, for a different reason, leading to a very difficult trial that lasted about 3 years. It was a very dark time. Guess what I learned. I learned that we are to choose God no matter what. Even if doing so makes no difference outside our own hearts. Even if, for the sake of argument, it leads you to a celestial kingdom where God is the only one glad you're there and everyone else there wishes you weren't. No matter what. Perhaps this "I'm not making a difference" is your trial - the reason you had to come to mortality - to see if you would choose God, even though nothing you did ever seemed to make a difference (so far as you could tell).

I suspect that every sacrament talk that basically communicated this idea did more harm than good. I'm glad it's been close to 30 years since I heard one. Folks need to learn that you can talk about all the reasons we have to rejoice without condemning those who feel sad or depressed.

Gotcha! Thanks. I think for me, since I have no other way to cook or heat water should the power go out, something like this is a good idea. I'll do more research - the one I linked was one I liked, but I haven't done enough research to know what else is available or how well any are built. Wise woman. Yeah, that's about where I was. I need to figure out what it could run (or how big of one I'd need to run various appliances - or appliance alternates, perhaps...). Thanks. I'll continue research, but this one is for after the stove / cooking solution.

I know. I have other water stored in containers that aren't ideal (such as milk jugs). Those won't keep the water good for drinking, and water will evaporate out of them, but I basically add about 1/2 gallon per week and can refill as needed. The tub liner is for drinking water (again, assuming I had notice enough to fill it; and yes, I'd have to treat the water to keep it from going bad). I have juice bottles (thicker than soda bottle plastic), and commercial bottled water. I rotate these. That's what I figured. Am I understanding correctly that you agree this is a good idea? This sort of thing was next on my list of things to get as I'll need to at least be able to boil water to cook the emergency food supplies. And as you say, the addition of an oven is nice, as is the fact that with the right fuel, I can use it indoors. For the roof panels, that's what I've heard, although, if it would work, and if there ever came a time when the electric company wasn't going to restore power, then who cares about the normal return on investment - the point would be electricity to help you survive. But mostly, I was thinking about these smaller somewhat portable things, such as this site sells. They're more for emergency or "power in the middle of nowhere". I shall continue to ponder and pray on this one. I was thinking heating if the power goes out long-term (or permanently). Thank you for your comments!

My biggest struggle is not being able to imagine the practical - in some areas. For example, in addition to my regular overstock of food and other consumables (TP, shampoo, clothing, etc.), next week I'll have about 8 months of emergency food storage. This is easy to figure out - even if there's no famine, even if food is available, there may be other reasons why having this stuff is a good idea (some other necessity is crazy expensive, for example). Water turned out to be harder. I have a short-term supply of drinking water, and water that could be used to flush the toilet (for example). I have one of these emergency water storage things that would turn my spare bathtub into water storage (assumes I'll have notice and time to fill it). I was going to get storage containers sufficient to give me about 450gallons, but just before submitting the order, I had a ridiculously strong impression not to - no idea why, but I aborted that effort. I'm supposing my water prep is enough, or that the 450 gallons was overkill, no idea, but I've put (more) water on hold for now. What I'm entirely unsure of is power. Power outages for more than hours aren't really a thing here (as yet). If I were trying to prepare for simple "the power is out but will be back" scenarios, then a Generac would be sufficient. But what if the power's not coming back? In such a scenario, is the gas gonna keep flowing to my (as yet theoretical) Generac? Am I going to be able to get gas, the other gas, or propane for the other sort of generator (were I to have one installed)? (Cuz you can only store so much of those fuels.) A stove like this seems like a pretty good idea, along with a variety of fuel. (Anyone know why it isn't?) A solar power generator might be a good idea. Or is it? I don't know how to figure this out. Advice welcome. Then there's the fact that we have winter here. Seems almost like a wood-burning stove would be the best option (I don't have a fireplace), but I'm not sure if this is realistic or not... I've even considered solar panels on the roof, but I don't know if those would provide me power were the electrical company no longer a thing (no idea how those are connected, etc.). This would be a very painful option for me (given the expense). Anywho, these are the things I think about as far as what I still need to do, and I'm entirely unsure which of these things I should pursue.

Here's a snippet:

We are not the only Christians who disbelieve this idea. Personally, I think this isn't the way to even try to approach things. I think Ammon teaching Lamoni is one example of how to approach this. And I think Brad Wilcox's devotional, "His Grace Is Sufficient" has some good ideas. Yeah, this one seems the most difficult. But again, I think trying to argue positions / points of doctrine is the wrong way. Do things that invite the Spirit - minister and testify. If they can feel the Spirit, they'll want to know more (sooner or later - it may take multiple examples across a lifetime before someone is ready to learn from missionaries).

I expect this is common among those who grew up in the Church, more especially if they grew up in a place with enough members to make up wards and stakes (as opposed to just branches, or just a district).

Welcome to ThirdHour, @leem! I think this GC talk from last GC answers your question: Fruit That Remains. (If you want to skip ahead, look for the numbered list.)

And people wonder why some cats don't respond to their "name"... Amen to that!

...being the important qualifier, I assume.

So sorry, Jedi! What a good kitty!

Yep. Not a trick question (not intentional), but just poor QC on their puzzles (or so I believe).

I'm looking for puzzles designed to be printed, so I can use my pens. It is technically possible to print this, so I'll bookmark them for the next time I run out and need more puzzles. Thanks!