Elgama

ok methinks you need to define socialism? because my country is more socialist than the US but actually has Christianity as its State Religion - most schools do still include religious observance and prayer, and our army, police, scouts, etc pledge allegiance to God, Queen and Country in that order not State:)

My reading of those scriptures has always been its commandment to us humans not to add the the Word of God or take away from it. Something that has been done over time, and each of us is capabable of doing with our poor understanding. I see nothing in any of those scriptures that says God cannot add to scripture

There are as many Lilith type or based legends as there are of the floods and the creation so I am inclined to think its got some truth in it. My personal with no evidence whatsoever wonder if she is Lucifer/Satan partner, as in most legends remains almost spirit in nature. And seems to have power over souls without a body

Surely that is democracy in action? If the vast majority of people didn't want healthcare they could vote it out. Kinda says something about national healthcare though ie once established the overwhelming reaction to it, is this is the right thing. You won't find many in my country who feel it should go, those who have experienced healthcare in the US tend to be the most ardent supporters of the NHS with all its faults. Why would no politician even a right wing one stand on a no NHS ticket, because democracy and the will of the people they serve has decided to keep it. Are you arguing doing away with democracy?

lol

nope Its now official we have a centre/right of centre government. However my understanding is they are using the Churchill definition of conservatism rather than later models like Thatcherism etc The plan is to create a net, you keep everyone in the net but provide provision for people who can to climb out of it.

whats wrong with that? just curious as LDS we have as much in common with Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism, Wiccan, Neo Paganism etc as we do mainstream Christianity? Maybe its just because I'm not American I don't get the suspicion of other religions

Me neither lol I don't know enough to have any answers its part of trusting Heavenly Father knows what He is doing:) However right now my head is saying maybe I'm wrong and questioning, my heart is confident and at peace

I'm not partially inactive, I am completely inactive as its what Heavenly Father asked, and who needs a calling to serve lol? For some reason I have never been over burdened with callings despite living in a branch where I should be, but maybe its because most people know I can be counted on to enrich their callings, and I don't require one to compel me to serve or love my fellow Church members or maybe it was merely to prepare me for this time. Our branch covers everyone in a large area, I have done service for members and non members alike in the past few months, not to mention I actually think fighting this situation is a service all of its own:) My husband and I were both strongly prompted to ask to be released from our callings before we became inactive. (that was so hard I was teaching in Relief Society and adored it) Plus I can't be a missionary in my area how can I in all conscience right now encourage a family with children back to church or to even visit?

Why are LDS so threatened when someone says you are not Christian? Maybe its because I agree with them I am not of the same religion as them, I walked away from mainstream Christianity to be a Latter Day Saint, and I am quite happy with the label I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. To be honest I would love the First Presidency to say actually were not Christian, we are just doing what Christ wants of us. Doubt they will lol I don't like a lot of the doctrine of mainstream Christianity and struggle when I only use the Bible, something is missing. Ultimately if you know you are where God wants you does it matter if they think you are not Christian?

However that sentiment which I agree with wholeheartedly and I am the first to let something go usually (although took a long time to learn that lol), is also what is allowing a lady in my branch to get away with causing lots of people to be inactive, the spirit to be a battle for many. When actually people should be saying what you are doing is wrong, its evil. Sometimes church members perpetuate evil intentionally and are not doing their best to be Christlike. However because I have said NO what you are doing is evil, I am now being protrayed as the evil party. And since I started posting here about my situation have realised I am far from alone and the its OK we are imperfect statement is causing a lot of evil to go past and causing a lot of fence sitting

I am in the middle of a situation right now, where my daughter was badly treated by the Primary president, after several attempts to sort this out at branch level, and in the middle of a Stake Presidency change we were asked to step back from Church by Heavenly Father, the particular witness I had to that leaves me in no doubt it was from Heavenly Father and what he wanted. A blessing I had from my husband clarified I may never know exactly why I am inactive right now, but that Heavenly Father would bless and protect my family during this time, our testimonies would grow and we would not be affected eternally. Its now nearly a year since the incident and I still haven't had any joy sorting the mess out, however we now know our daughter was bullied by an adult from the age of 2 in the branch. She has had no seizures since we became inactive except one were the Branch President visited and she thought we were returning to church. Her neurologist at last visit said she felt Ellie's were not seizures but something brought on by PTSD. Right now is hard, I managed not to get angry or hurt until recently, but am struggling with the fact some people saw things and never came forward until we went inactive and the prevailing attitude that because nobody elses child is affected it doesn't matter, she can remain as Primary President (I had always refused her to baby sit because of a gut feeling, but I had no idea about this, I don't think they can be confident another child isn't being treated in the same way). I really want to go back to church, my testimony is rock solid the church is true and Heavenly Father wants me there, but my testimony that what we are doing right now is also rock solid. His promise my testimony would grow was kept and kind of wish He hadn't lol as it makes not going harder. We want to travel to another unit, and were going to go last week, the prompting not to go was strong. I know we are supposed to do this, my daughter's blessing I had a talk that day and so did another friend, neither of us got any inspiration about what to talk on, a blessing told me that it was because Ellie's blessing was more important than any of the talks. It relates very clearly to whats going on, and there is a section in my Patriachal Blessing I feel is strongly related to right now, Heavenly Father put so much in to preparing me for this since my baptism things have happened that allowed me to deal with this. And I know what happened to Ellie isn't his primary reason for what He is about to do. But right now still can't see a way back to church and I am just clinging to the fact I know there is one.

I might be able to help historically with number 1 it wasn't just Jews that were part of the holocaust they were just the start, but homosexuals, gypsies, JWs etc all were sent to the death camps

In the past 6 months I have been shouted at, ignored, despite being entirely worthy told I wouldn't be getting a temple recommend and been treated by with a complete lack of respect by my current branch president. I have no doubt he has received his calling for a reason. And his actions have inspired me in many ways and increased my testimony, if for no other reason that I have seen how previous branch presidents and bishops have protected me with their wise advice

about them being inspiring? even the bad ones can increase a testimony even if its not their intention:)

i'm not in England but right now we not anything:), and depends on your definition of socialist nature for us it would only be so if Labour party was in solo. Although given as Christianity is our offcial religion hmm

My experience is all local leaders are inspiring even the bad ones. Its why Heavenly Father called them. The MOST inspirational thing a local leader ever did was the Bishop that refused me a Temple Recommend until I could say YES I am worthy to enter the temple looking him in the eye and clearly. Its had a huge impact on my temple attendance

most religious people I know would be socialist by US standards and most LDS tend to be on the left wing of UK politics, the only LDS mainstream politicians I am aware of in the UK were part of the Labour party pre Blair and the SNP

can you meditate? do some relaxation breathing here are two ideas that may help: Get yourself comfortable. Breathe in count to 3, breathe out count to 5, if you can get the breath going in what feels like a circular motion in and out that is best but not essential, then start to say relax in on the in breath, tension out on the out breath. Or instead imagine the Holy Ghost as a coloured light (I use white gold) or a dove and breathe them in and breathe out bad feelings and anger as black feelings. Then work the way down your body, telling the holy ghost or relaxation to come into your head, breathe tension or bad feelings out, then do your neck, and go all the way down your body to your feet, This should help bad feelings for your family go or at very least calm your mind, so you are at your most receptive to the Holy Ghost. OR an alternative is to breathe in counting to 3, and breathing out placing a Buddha like smile on your face. OR work out something that works for you, don't worry if the imagery isn't clear, the important thing is your breath. Another thing might be to pray hard for forgiveness and calm feelings towards your family. I don't know the situation so I am sorry if I am being insensitive. My parents separated messilly, heck nearly 19 years on its still messy, it took me a long time but my advice is divorce them from each other and concerntrate on what made your Mum a good Mum and your Dad a good Dad, if you can write it down, don't put any negatives. Maybe even send it to them and express your love for them. My Dad was a stinking rotten husband, cheated on my Mum loads of times, then neglected me a lot during my teen years BUT he was actually a really good Dad up until I was 13 and he is an exceptional Grandad when the kids see him. My Mum may have been an alcoholic and going off her rocker and very bitter afterwards but she isn't bad either. My brother got into trouble with the police but he's got his good points, maybe rememeber incidents with your brothers where you enjoyed their company

how about getting a blessing? its what i do when my illness is bad, I have an illness that clogs up my brain and I can't always receive Heavenly Father as I would like

well given if we do have a Heavenly Mother she is part of the Godhead or God that would be true, but she isn't Heavenly Father either. I am striving to become one with my Husband and God but I will never be my husband

also does it actually matter if he was copying freemasonry? if the temple teaches what the Lord would have us know using the things Joseph Smith copied? as Latter Day Saints we are told to appreciate anything that is good and lovely of good report whereever we find it

I am sure its a Thomas S Monson story I know the one you are talking about, but its been a long time since I heard it

Just my personal views there are an awful lot more people in the world so along with more evil we also get more good. Yes times are worse than they have ever been but we hear about things we wouldn't have heard about less than 100 years ago because information flows so much faster etc. A classic example is the current paranoia in my country about pedophiles and child abductions, children can no longer even walk to school alone. However the rate of non familial pedophile convictions and child abductions is no greater than it was when I was a child. In my area last non famllial child abduction and rape was 1795 or thereabouts

she might have recieved a negative, and it maybe because its not the right time for her to know. Ultimately the best way to respond is, you know its true because God has said it is, and how Joseph Smith got the Book of Mormon in that instance is unimportant. No amount of information or you saying will convert, you know the Holy Ghost is real and a companion in your life, I find baring witness of how God and the Holy Ghost bless my life a better way of counteracting arguements than fighting over our history