Misshalfway

Is the leading of people in different directions wrong??? Now I must qualify this question and place it into the context of "really and truly being led by God." I say that as I laugh about the three college guys who said they prayed and KNEW that I was to be their wife. HA HA!

pass that fiddle faddle! ........and thank you.

I like your analogy and tend to agree with it, but to put myself in that analogy I would have to say that I'm staring at a tool shed with a variety of different tools and no idea how to use any of them. I am smiling cuz I felt this way sooooo many times! I think of Nephi who didn't even have the tools....he had to make them himself! (building the boat....) At least you have the tools in front of you. Anyway, I think that is what faith is all about. Not knowing how to use the tool..but picking it up and using it anyway...knowing that the "how" will make itself known. Perfect is such a subjective word because everyone has different criteria for perfection in different areas. Perfection as a word simply means without flaw, but we all have different ideas for what constitutes a flaw. This might sound weird, but I actually find comfort in that. I don't have to figure it all out. I can't figure it all out. So, that frees me up to figure out what I can. And then I leave the rest to God and his timelines and his will for me. Consider the lillies.......the don't spin. I agree with you Tomk. God will sort it all out with more love and mercy and wisdom than we can even imagine. And DS, you have a goodness in you. I feel it every time you post. I am not worried for you. It will all work itself out.....as you move forward with courage to pick up the tools and use them!

One more thot.... I think religion itself is flawed. And it always will be. It is kinda like parenthood.....haven't met a perfect parent yet. But I also think that perhaps we learn more...gain more experiential knowledge thru imperfect situations. I think the perfection is found in the very imperfection we fight against.

Who says you have to answer the question about religion today? Sometimes I think God is found outside of religion. Religion is just a tool.

You speak sound principles, LMM. I wish I was in a better frame of mind to receive them without tears. I wish I could show you how I have practiced what you speak... Most of the time, I love the sound voice of reason cutting thru the fray of emotion. But, if it is ok, I will listen to your wonderful advise tomorrow. For today, though, I think I will find a warm blanket somewhere and pray for friendship and strength to keep trying. Thank you. For speaking to me straight, though.

Oh you guys are so funny. Thanks for the belly laugh, Palerider! I haven't really told the saga story.....and I don't think I will. I will say though that my heart has been so very broken over the events of the past two years. So many painful events. I don't know why family troubles hurt so badly, but they do. I love my in laws deeply. But I have my boundaries too. It is hard for me to accept that perhaps they never will love me. Maybe that can be ok.....later when my heart isn't broken anymore. I am grateful for what I am learning. And at the end of the day, when the suffering is over, I am sure I will feel like it was all benevolent. But for now, I am searching for comfort. Anybody have a chocolate pie?

I agree!! Talk about Grace!!

Kona, Add my prayers to list!!! These circumstances definitely add on the stress. My H and I always say, things happen FOR us, not TO us! Maybe there is some hidden blessing in the works for you!!! I will keep you in my thoughts! I wish the best things for you. MH

I just wanted to say, again, that we DON'T cover our faces when we get sealed. Ok? My mother is a temple worker. I called her yesterday, just to make sure. And, I think there are things men can't do...... the maternity ward should make that very clear. I think God is a giver of gifts. He gives us all that we need to be happy here on earth and to live with him again. His gifts aren't always the same for all of us. Gosh, I wish I could be like Chieko Okasaki or run in a marathon. But those aren't my gifts. I was given other things. The priesthood is a gift fro all to benefit from. And women very much do run this church. Very important parts of it. But their main responsibility is the home. And with the assult on the family the way it is in the world, I am glad God cared enough about the children to prepare women and qualify women to protect and nurture them. Men can run the church and do all that stuff..... but what would the church be without the home? Our roles as men and women, though hard to understand at times, are truly inspired. I have questioned it. But I don't anymore. I think as you, FF, pray to know....God will flesh it out for you. His ways are not our ways.....He doesn't think like we do here. There is so much we don't understand....Now, I am not saying for a moment that one shouldn't search and question and pray for truth. I actually think many say they trust the Lord or all will be revealed later because they HAVE petitioned the Lord and that is his answer. I remember in college, my calling was the gospel doctrine teacher. We were teaching the D&C and polygamy came up. I often feel directed to say things when I teach. I felt so strongly that I should testify of polygamy. I personally don't like it... I don't like the idea one bit! But, I obeyed. The Spirit filled that room! It filled the room corner to corner. And the faces of the people before me changed. I knew they were feeling it too! I cannot describe....... I know I don't know everything. And I am sure the context of this life and all of its injustices cloud our understandings at times. But, I can't deny what I do know. And I can't deny what happened that day in that Sunday School class. It was pure knowledge. No details were given. No answers to my laundry list of questions and objections. Just pure truth.....and deep soul filling comfort.

This is a difficult one. And I am sorry for it. I think though, that if the patriarch made you feel the spirit when you were with him, then that is something. I wish I could say that I don't know what it is like to doubt. But, I know all about that. I have just been through a long questioning period myself. So, I know what you are going thru....at least in part. And it is not easy. But through all of it, my faith has been confirmed and I feel myself getting stronger and stronger. There must be some reason this is happening. My husband often says that "things happen FOR us, not TO us." Perhaps this is some blessing in disguise. Maybe you won't know the answer or meaning of it for a long time. I have worried about my own blessing for similar reasons-- and mine is very unique. I am learning to have more faith.... and to look at what it IS rather than comparing it to what it is not. I wish I had more answers than that. I guess, I can say that I understand. And that it will be alright.

My first take on this is that I have never heard of this before. My second take is why not question the fallibility of this man before you question the truthfulness of the church? It is almost as if you make the assumption that all patriarchs are either perfect every moment or frauds. Knowing what I know about bishops and all other church leaders, they are NOT perfect every moment. Perhaps your patriarch had a not so spiritual day. Perhaps his health is failing. Perhaps you got the exact blessing you were suppose to get. I can't know. But I think that there are other explanations other than the church being full of fraud.

I hear you. I have ranted over this a little myself. It just isn't as safe a world as I would like it to be. But I think I hear your point.....balance, eh? The precious middle ground!

Hello. Here is my take...... 1. The priesthood is a gift for both men and women. Both need it and enjoy the blessings from it. I have asked this question myself. And I know the brethren have spoken to this issue. If I get some time, I will do a search. But my feeling is that the men are given the priesthood as a stewardship... for the leadership of the church and the support of their families -- and the families of those without a priesthood holder in the home (widows, for example.) It isn't about power in the traditional tyrannical sense. The women have been given stewardship too, over childbearing and the home. To me, it is like the yin and the yang of how heavenly father has organized things. I think too often our world has oppressed women and as a result, women feel the need to compete with the men. I think that in the kingdom of heaven the divisions don't follow those norms. 2. I am with Morningstar. We don't veil our faces when we get married. I looked into my husbands baby blues and he looked straight into mine. There is a place in the temple ceremony where this happens. But, the answer to this question may better come from a priesthood leader near you. 3. It is not like the men 'can'... it is more like a woman may need to become sealed and the man she marries helps her attain that blessing. It is about the sealing ordinance and the promises of Abraham than it is about men getting more prestige over the women. 4. From what I understand, a woman that has not been married in this life may attain the highest degree of the celestial kingdom. But for men, they have a responsibility to get sealed on earth. So, in a way, the gals have it a little easier. The ultimate goal is that man and woman be joined and sealed and their children brought into that covenant as well. And in the end, Heavenly Father will take care of ironing out all the complications and issues that arise here in earth life.

If it bleeds, it leads!

Frankly, I think our whole system is soft on crimes against children. It is an absolute outrage! I usually can't listen too closely....or emotionally to stories like this one. My spirit just can't deal with the realities.....it is so awful. But, I am glad that, at least, we have more information to know how to keep our families safe. Back when my parents were raising us, they didn't know to be vigilant and unfortunately, bad things happened. This is one of the reasons I have chosen not to work outside my home. I just can't let my kids out of my sight!! I am very careful about what preschools they go to and who their coaches are. We try to coach when we can. My husband and I try to stay so involved in everything our kids do. We have had to really watch who my kids play with. My son has already learned way too much about the internet from visiting his buddy's home. We are wondering if we should speak to the parents. (never comfortable!) And my kids got solicited on a website I thought was safe. Now, I severely restrict all internet usage in my home. It is just a crazy unsafe world we live in.

Thank you for your heartfelt posts, guys!! Really amazing to hear you all talk like this. It is sure evidence that there is much good still in this world!!!

We have had job offers, freelance opportunities, and random cash come to our family out of the blue! I know God makes stuff like that happen. Manna from heaven!

Oh yes! The horn thing. I don't hear it much anymore. Mostly when I was a kid. My mother's high school history teacher told the class mormons had horns. I was asked once, in a Banana Republic store if we worshipped wagon wheels. Whatever.......

LOL!

At the end of the day, this is why I believe the BofM. It has had such a profound impact on my life. I cannot explain........... It has enhanced my understanding of almost every principle of the gospel. But even more than that it has changed me as a person. I have one set of scriptures that is literally falling apart because I have read them so many times. The BofM is a gift that keeps on giving. And I am so grateful for it. So, as much as I love to talk doctrine and details....at the end of all the debating and discussion is this deep knowledge about the power of the book. They say the proof is in the pudding. And for me it is tasting the power of the book that has proved its worth to me.

I hear you SOOOO loud and clear!

There are moments in earth life when I would like it all to end!!! I am saying that in between loads of laundry! Seriously, I don't fear the eternities. I think there will be much in the way of learning and new adventure and lots of horizons left to explore. Who knows? Maybe there will be more endings..... we just don't know about them yet.

What the missionaries mean by asking you about your feelings.... is "are you feeling the spirit?". They are also trying to determine if you are feeling any of the fruits of the spirit. They want to know if God is speaking to your heart and they are trying to keep tabs on that as you progress thru the discussions. I think perhaps the missionaries need to do a better job explaining themselves. It is confusing though. And I agree that emotions are not the soul basis for determining truth. Most of my spirit feelings are not emotional feelings. But with the English language.... I think maybe we need more words to describe feelings.... hmmmmm..... You listen to the spirit of the Lord. It may come to you in a personal way only for you.....but that is what you follow. Feel good about your choices. Feel good about following God's will for you. But let the distinction be clear about how you determine truth. The scriptures.....the bofm.....search them and pray. And have faith. No need to worry. God has your back. And the missionaries will prolly still ask you how you feel..... you can tell them to be more specific. Or to let you tell them when and if you are feeling the Spirit. Good luck with your search. PS: I will also add that as much as I love the missionaries, they are young, and imperfect beings trying to teach the gospel in their weakness. I doubt some of these young men are the best communicators. But God qualifies the weak things of the world to do his work. I think you guys just need to communicate a little better about these issues. This might be a good learning moment for them!!

I have moved away. Although... I don't think it is far enough. They just keep calling. And I keep avoiding and feeling guilty. Oh well. Love the advice from you, Pixiemom! Thanks. My inlaws don't get what they want from him and so they come pumping me for info or whatever. I am working on not getting caught in their games. And working on healing after all the painful years.