aclaire11

Do you guys think it would be worth it to reach out to people from that ward and explain what happens and why I left? I just hate that they think I just fell away randomly.

"Moderator Note: Do not reference the details of LDS Temple liturgy." Sorry, I did not realize that was part of the temple liturgy.

Thank you, that did clear a few things up about Michael. So I assume he was a spirit when he created the world, and then was one of the "spirits who have once had a mortal body and are awaiting resurrection"? So can all spirits create before they have bodies, or was he special? Are all premortal spirits technically angels? Because I don't think I've heard anyone call them that.

I'm having some trouble wrapping my head around the whole Michael/Adam doctrine. So Michael helps create the earth, when he's already an angel. Then he receives a body. But angels are glorified humans. So why is he getting a physical body again? Or was he just a high-level spirit at that time? Was Eve something similar, or was she a regular spirit? If Michael become Adam, why does he only become an angel again afterwards instead of a higher being? Or was an angel, and then was taken back in time (because God is outside of time) to become Adam? Do the angels go from angel to man to angel, or spirit to man to angel? If someone could explain the logic, that would be amazing, because this is really proving to be a stumbling block for me. I don't think this was ever really explained to me, or else I just stared blankly and nodded because I was embarrassed I didn't get it. Moderator Note: Do not reference the details of LDS Temple liturgy.

I've always been a night owl. It causes some interesting clashes with my fiance, who is a complete morning person.

Thank you all so much for your replies and advice. All the links to talks have been very helpful. Although there are some doctrines I'm not fully comfortable with, I think I'm going to try reactivating (do people say that?) and see how that goes. Hopefully my fiance won't be too upset, since this will be coming out of left field for him.

Talk to your husband about what he thinks. Are they close? Maybe he could go for pictures, and you could make an excuse and stay home with the baby? I have a terrible (future) sister-in-law, too, with similar behavior. My policy is to avoid her like the plague, but that only works because she's mostly estranged from my fiance anyway. Honestly, if I were in your situation I'd push for not going. You have ample reason not to go (finances, baby, work, past/current drama) and it sounds like your husband doesn't want to go, either. It really sounds to me like she just wants to put on a show for the pictures.

OldPort, thank you for your kind reply. I will do my best to follow your advice. Just to clarify, only our parents would be angry. My fiancé has said that he believes in the LDS church less than in other churches, but he would not be angry or disrespectful if I chose to attend. I definitely felt love in the Temple. However, I have felt that same feeling in other churches, as well. Curiously enough, I did only start to feel it after my baptism.

Hey, all. This will be really hard for me to write, but I really need help. I became a member of this board a long time ago while I was converting back in 2007 or 2008. I converted while studying abroad. I never told my parents, as they're extremely controlling and somewhat emotionally abusive. I did try to lead towards telling them, but they are very prejudiced against the Church. It helped that I went to a boarding school, so I was free to do what I thought best for my spiritual health. The next year, a boy at my boarding school starting following me around and basically stalking me. Hoping it would get him off my back, I told him I couldn't date any nonmembers because it was against my religion. He converted. Because of this, he was following me to new member lessons, Church (we had the same ride), Wednesday activities, etc. He guilted me into dating him by saying if I didn't, I would have misled him and he would leave and become an apostate and it would all be my fault. I was 18 and stupid and agreed, because it was late winter and I was a senior and figured I could suffer through it for a few months. I was so isolated because I was too scared to tell anyone what was happening. It was awful, the most unhealthy relationship possible, and I cried almost every day. I was a mess. Then, one morning before going to church, he raped me. A few weeks later, during a school vacation, when I came out of deep shock and realized what had happened, I broke things off. I stopped going to church because I couldn't handle being there with him. The therapist I ended up seeing for a few years listened to my story and told me that this boy had cruelly manipulated me. I still have problems accepting that. Everyone in the ward assumed I was just weak and hadn't really had a testimony. People even said I had only converted because I liked a LDS boy around that time, even though that was afterwards. This made me feel even worse. I went abroad the summer after graduation and started going back to church. I went on a temple trip for the first time and loved it. At college, I was a lot more open about my faith. I went to a Catholic university but everyone was so accepting. There were a few members at the school, and everyone was very nice. However, I was suffering from PTSD and severe depression (I later found out), and all the trauma caused me to have a major crisis of faith which, I'm ashamed to say, I did not overcome. It didn't help that at the ward, a severely mentally challenged boy was constantly harassing me and no one tried to help. I ended up becoming an atheist for a few years, after returning to my former faith of Catholicism for a while. During this phase I met my fiance, whom I will be marrying in two months. He's perfect for me and I know we are meant to be together, so please don't comment telling me to leave him. Recently we started going to an Eastern Orthodox church together, which I've liked. He is an agnostic, but has said he will go to church wherever I like but won't convert. We've both relocated (separately) to where his new job is, and there's a 3-ward building right down the road from me. I've seen the missionaries bike/walk by at least four times. I'm feeling so many conflicting emotions of fear and longing and I don't know what to do. I don't know if the church is true, especially after everything I've read, but I do know I wish it were true. I do know that my fiance would be very unhappy if I started going to the LDS church, because he thinks it's fake. And all of our parents would be very angry. Is there any way to meet with people and keep it quiet until I decide what to do? I never finished my new member lessons. And I want the text of my patriarchal blessing, no matter what I decide. I just feel like I'm in an impossible situation, and I can't discern where God wants me to go. Maybe I'm just lonely in a new place and miss the community. Also, just any general advice would be amazing.

What do you mean by using the internet? My parents are nonmembers and would definitely not let me spend money on an LDS dating site, if that's what you are referring to. I've been to a bunch of YSA activities. There are only around 4 or 5 YSAs in the ward, and around 20 in the stake. (And a good number of people are already 'paired off.') It seems like most of the members at my university are grad students, and all but two of them are already married.

I've been a member for over a year (minus a few months as inactive) and I still have not read it all the way through. Before I went inactive I was near the end of Alma. I came back without starting to read again. So no, I don't think you need to read the entire BOM. But you should start studying the scripures again, and continue reading them if you decide to come back.

Thanks so much for your advice. I do have one more question. Do/did you find it difficult to be involved both at Church and at college? I want to go to the different Church activities, but I also want to be involved in a few things and have a decent social life at college.

Oh, I thought of another. A while ago, our Bishop's wife had just had twins and the girls all went over and helped take care of the babies. Learning+Service!

My ward had some great mutual activities. We played Battleship with the volleyball net. The adults hung sheets on the net so that the teams couldn't see each other. Then everyone sat down or lay down. The adults would then ask questions about the BOM, etc and whoever got it right got 3 tennis balls, which they would toss over the net to try and hit the other team. After that game was over, we played volleyball with the sheets still on. It was really fun. We had Iron Chef. The boys were on one team and the girls were on the other. We'd receive a recipe (ex. creampuffs) and then after we had made the food the adults would judge it and declare a winner. The girls made/decorated recipe books with dividers and everything. (a lot like scrapbooking) Some Ideas: Find women in the Ward that have a certain skill like sewing, scrapbooking, cooking/baking, gardening, or really anything, and have them come teach the young women. The same could be done with the young men. (Woodwork, wilderness survival, etc) Maybe have a "Teaching Activity" once a month. This would be great for reaching out to inactive adults if they know how to do something interesting. Our YW also went on walks sometimes. They would go to the local school and walk around on the track and around the fields.

Thank you so much! I took your advice and I found two facebook groups. One for my ward's YSA and one for the regional YSA. Plus I googled my college and LDS and apparently we have a pair of LDS football recruits there. So at least now I know that there are A) LDS students at my school and B) a decent amount of Young Single Adults in the area.

Hey, I'm a 19-year-old convert, and I start college this August. I will be attending a a Catholic university and I'm worried about meeting other YSAs and about dating. There is no YSA ward near me, and I know nothing about the local family ward except that it meets at the stake center a few miles away from the school. I do know that there is institute at the stake center. What else should I do to meet other YSA members? Do you have any advice? Thank you, AClaire11

I am pretty shy, too, but I'm working on being more outgoing. I realized that I feel nervous around people I don't know very well, and I tend to hang out with first few people I meet and actually have conversations with. Now when I am in a new school/class/ward/etc, I introduce myself to as many people as possible, and try to have at least a short conversation with them. That helps me feel more relaxed around everyone. And I definitely agree with the poster that said just try and be friends instead of chasing after "crushes." EDIT: Also, smile a lot! Not only does it make you look more friendly, it actually makes you feel happier!

I think I can relate a bit. I faced a similar situation at my school, which was at least 90% liberal. (Not an exaggeration, they took a poll). So while I didn't have to deal with this problem in Church, I know how it feels to be the minority politically. My advice is to stay strong. If someone approaches you, either calmly and politely explain why you have gay friends and have progressive viewpoints. This may require research and practice so that you can articulate your views easily. Maybe you could practice with your wife. An alternative is to "lay low" and refuse (politely) to discuss politics. Ward Member: Why do you have gay friends? What if they lead you into sin? You: Jesus had dinner with tax collectors and sinners, the Bible tells us to love the sinner but hate the sin, etc.

Thank you so much for your kind reply! It's true, during all the meetings I felt as if some of the messages were meant for me. I made some new friends, including an investigator, and I just feel that since I made my decision I've had so many more blessings. Again, thank you, and I hope that everything is going well for you. It sounds like you're going through some hard times. Don't ever lose hope!

About the missionaries: Definitely talk to your boyfriend about this, and if the problem persists than I think you should tell the Bishop or other adult with the proper authority.

Even if you don't think you need to confess to be forgiven, I think you should at least talk to your Bishop and ask for help with the addiction. And maybe he can give you some advice.

I can't see it either...May I please have access as well?

Yes, I think you definitely need to talk to the Bishop about this. Talk about the pornography, and also discuss the problems that have led to the your use of it. Also, maybe you should ask him about single adult activities in the stake or branch, if by your "area" you meant the ward.

Thanks for the help, guys! My Bishop sent me a message saying that all I need to do is start going back to Church and everything will be fine. He also said he will look into fixing my Patriarchal Blessing, which had some spelling errors in it. So it looks like everything is going to work out.

It was a baptisms for the dead recommend. I know members have to wait at least a year to receive the endowment after being baptised. Do I have to wait for another year? Thank you so much for your help!