Misshalfway

I was reading the BofM today. Alma 17. Reading about Alma as he, in a chance meeting on the road, sees his old friends, the Sons of Mosiah. I was reading about his joy at seeing that they were still in the Lord. Reading about their lives and their choices since their conversion. No one was more determined to destroy the church at one point. And here they are turning the same determination to preaching the word to the Lamanites; a group who most thought should be killed and wiped off the planet. I was reading about their hours of study, prayer and fasting. And the spiritual returns that came from such investment. I was in awe at their dedication and vision as they took no thought for their own lives and selfish desires, but went forth only concerned with bringing people to Christ. Would knowing the exact city where they met on that road change the Spirit I felt today? Would seeing the structures in Central America prove to me that Alma felt the way he did and the feelings that came to my heart in terms of desire for more of this kind of joy and dedication to come into my life? I doubt it. There is power in the Book!! Power to penetrate the heart. I know it. I had penetrated mine.

I know what you are talking about. I know a little of asking with so much sincerity and wondering why the answer I thought I would get never came. I don't have all the answers. But I just wanted to say that I understand, at least, that experience. I think that the Lord has been teaching me something about faith. He has been leading me.....expanding me even. Most of the time, I hold on with just as much determination in my faith. I say in my heart that I will continue with this gospel until He absolutely tells me it is wrong! Sometimes, I have done so just because the scriptures said to and nothing else in my life was there to help. I have had no choice but to rely on the promise. And sometimes my faith has failed llike air out of a balloon. Like I tried and the promise wasn't met and I went away in disappointment. And you know, the answers have been coming. Quiet whispers here and there. Like little puzzle pieces kind of gently coming together for me. Very rarely in my life has the Spirit been anything more than quietness. Like a friend that sits by my side with a "yes" here and " keep moving" there. More than anything Mike, I am learning to trust God as my perfect Father who will give me the answers in His own way and in His own time. It is for me to stay true and wait on the Lord. And even though he has made me wait on some things, he hasn't left me comfortless. Thru all my doubts and fears about this gospel and church, Father has walked with me. This is kinda silly, but I often think of a quote from the disney movie "Finding Nemo". "Just keep swimming....just keep swimming....." I spose in the end, even though I have argued and pouted and shouted, I find myself doing just that. Best Wishes, Mike from the UK. misshalfway

jada pinkett

There is one sin the Atonement won't cover and that is the sin against the Holy Ghost. This happens when a person has full knowledge of God, Jesus, and extensive gospel truth and then is trusted with spiritual information and duty and then turns completely and traitorously against such knowledge and then fight against the truth. Make sense? Having the perfect knowledge and then basically becoming as Satan himself. I believe every other sin should be taken care of with a baptism. The sin against the HG isn't possible for anyone who hasn't been baptized. And the only other exception I can imagine would be a murder. And then, that person at worst, wouldn't be allowed to be baptized. That is my best guess on that. I wonder if it would be a case by case basis.

I am glad you are writing the SP. I would be knocking his door down. This bishop doesn't sound like someone who has dealt with PA and the complex struggles and needs that recovery brings. It seems to me that in the last 10 yrs the leaders have either been too hard or too soft. I like where things seem to be heading now. Whatever you have done in your life to change your compulsions, I must admire. It takes a great deal of effort on multiple fronts and I am glad you are finding success. I never take anything for granted when it comes to addictions of any kind. Weakness for such things can come at any time and after long periods of sobriety. Would you consider a church 12 step now? For maintenance purposes? No one should have to walk such a difficult road alone. You can get the manual online at LDS.org and even see if there are meetings in your area. One of the steps is to reach out and help others. I bet you could really make a difference to others. I know lots of communities have SA or PA 12 step programs if the church doesn't have anything where you live. Too bad your bishop isn't encouraging this program. Perhaps you could mention it to your SP.

Neat! I have never been to something like that. I would love to hear what it is like.

Plain. I am a purist. Limo or horse drawn carriage?

tripod

Hello lost one. Welcome to the site. I suppose we are all a big family....a big dysfunctional family! :lol: As I have read your thread, I have the same question as others. Why two years? I know I don't know the details, but from my experience, getting recovering PA's on their feet and feeling the Spirit in their lives helps more than holding off on badly needed blessings because of technicalities. Hmmmm. And only talking to the bishop once a year doesn't seem like the program I have seen. Most repentant PA's meet with their bishops frequently if not weekly. When a person is baptized they are clean every whit and a clear indication that forgiveness is there. So, why two more years for priesthood and temple? It just doesn't seem right that he would put you on an immediate probation after membership is restored. I know the church used to be very hard for this kind of thing, but it seems the more they learn, the more compassionate and encouraging they are being. Perhaps your bishop is less informed about newer approaches. I am also wondering what recovery program seems to be working for you. I know that the 12 steps are quite effective, especially the LDS version.

I understand how hard it is too look at a document such as the BofM and to believe such without the physical evidence. How wonderful if God would just come down and show us all the truths of the earth and the eternities all at once! Proving it would be so satisfying wouldn't it? But the very act of proving it, defeats the purpose. The goal of the bofm is to the convincing of Jew and gentile that Jesus is the Christ. Not that Jesus was born and walked the earth and that a lot of people thought he was nice. This is a different kind of knowledge, and not only that it is a spiritual change that happens deep in the soul of the individual. Show me the spiritual merits of proof? What can proof do to change the human nature and bring a person to their knees in humility and willingness to obey? What can historical evidence do to bring a soul to repentance? To change their course? To apply themselves to discipleship and love for mankind? I could argue that it does the opposite. It keeps people ever learning and never really coming to the truth. It keeps people at a safe distance from truth out of fear that it could be a two-edged sword in their lives. It is an excuse not to search the pages and more than that, search their hearts. The proof of the BofM is in the very words on the page and what they do to ones heart and soul IF the one is open. They have the power to literally change the desires of the soul to righteous things and fill the mind with more truth with more sure evidence than any physical proof will ever provide. You can prove a man named Jesus walked this earth, but you can't prove he is the son of God. But the Holy Spirit can convince any man who is humble enough to ask and obey. And then bring that soul to peace, and cleanliness and safety. This thread can go on and on with no definitive and satisfactory results. Theraputic maybe in airing the concern. My invitation is to read the book in the spirit of genuine searching. Get into the words. Open your heart to the meaning. Banish fear and pride and intellectualism. And then ask God is if is NOT true.

We don't believe in the trinity. We believe in the Godhead. God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit are three separate beings. Father and Son have glorified bodies of flesh and bone. The Holy Ghost does not. His body is one of spirit matter. This is one reason why Joseph Smith's first vision is so crucial to the LDS belief system. He saw God and Jesus standing separately and in bodily form, thus revealing the true nature of God. Of course most of Christianity differs in their beliefs about the nature of God. The Trinity is one such belief and is found in many protestant belief systems and is basically the idea that the F, S, and HG are one person that changes form. So Jesus and the Father are seen as the same being. Others I am sure can describe the Trinity better than I. I believe the origins of the Trinity doctrine comes from conclusions made by theologians at the Council of Nicea and is called the Nicean Creed. And one thought about reading the book of Mormon. I really like the advice of UTcowboy. I wonder if you just read a few key doctrinal chapters or a few key bofm stories. The missionaries often have people read certain sections and kinda build from there. It might be less daunting than tackling the who thing at once. The missionaries (at least they used to. I am revealing my age here. :) ) would recommend reading the Introduction to the book. It contains a brief description of what the book is and the story of the First Vision and the visit of the angel Moroni and how he appeared to Joseph and told him about the ancient record. You could then read 3 Nephi 11 where Christ comes to America and perhaps the last chapter of Moroni.

scenic route m&m's or skiddles?

rehab

punch drunk

lucky

Now, there is a concept. :)

Sometimes being politically incorrect can be hurtful. But on the balance, I see that the push for PC in every nook and craney of our lives only ends in making everyone easily offended! It is like it opens the door and teaches us to be offended when otherwise we might just blow it off.

My father says, wth a big cheesy grin of course, "They aren't swear words! They're farm words!" (he was raised on a farm)

This is a really interesting thread and I appreciate so many of the thoughts shared. I suppose it is imperative that we let our light shine and keep ourselves unspotted from the world.....I don't mean in the sense that we separate ourselves from the world or act as though we are better. I guess I mean the opposite. Reaching out in love more often to those who perhaps don't deserve it or who may not choose to receive it. Perhaps it is seeking out the antidotes to this nasty pride condition and working those cures more fully into our lives. Perhaps it is involving ourselves in our communities and stretching ourselves in social and civic capacities. How else will the light be seen, except we shine it? The older I get and thru the experiences I have had, I feel increasingly drawn to the attributes of love/charity and the actions of the Savior. There is great power in humility and obedience! There is nothing satisfying about selfishness or the harboring of negative feelings and judgements. And the more we sanctify ourselves, the more the Lord blesses us with capacities to teach and to touch lives. I often think of that singular group of Nephites and Lamanites who got it right. They were the happiest people. And of course the residents of Enoch. They certainly got it right. Makes me want to search out their secrets of success. :)

Ethel

lovers

lol!!!!

Thank you notes

Styx!!! Cause you know it's you, Babe! Mr. Roboto or Come Sail Away?

I know the youth....inside and outside of the church....can sometimes be difficult. I can understand that you want to be around people who help you feel accepted and able to be yourself. I am glad that you have found a group of friends who do show you acceptance regardless of what church they belong to. Good friends should be valued wherever we find them. And if they are such good people why wouldn't you look to their belief system especially if they are inviting you to look at a set of beliefs that mean a great deal to them. I suppose there is much to be learned by your association with them. Studying the variety to Christianity can be confusing. And I am sure that the Baptist position prolly would be skewed against Joseph Smith or the BofM. And when you saw the actions of the Saints, their behavior sounds like it has become a stumbling block for you. I have a few questions for you. Do you believe in God? I am assuming that Yes you do. Do you believe that He has a body or is an entity that none of us can understand? Do you believe that God the Father and Jesus are separate beings or that they are one? Do you believe that Jesus could appear to anyone he wanted to? Do you believe he visited with the 12 apostles after his resurrection? Do you believe that Mary saw his resurrected body in the Garden and that the tomb was empty? Do you believe Stephen saw him? Do you believe he talked to any in the OT the same way? Is it possible for Christ to show himself to anyone today? Do you think Jerusalem was the only group he visited in all of time? or will visit? Is it possible to you that other groups could have records concerning visits from Christ?