Rico

I think it's time for a bit of an update on our progression. In the first week of July, I was called to be the executive ward secretary so I have been learning a lot and doing a lot more reading over the last month. Also, a couple of weeks ago, my wife was called to serve in the Young Women. And last week, I got to personally ask Elder David A Bednar a question. His answer was so perfect. It was truly awesome being in the presence of an apostle of the Lord. Of course all of that is a distant second to how my testimony has grown. I see each and every day how imperfect saints are perfecting themselves on a journey to the Celestial Kingdom. I discover more and more truth as I learn more and more of the Gospel. I am truly looking forward to when my wife and I can be sealed in the temple. The Restored Gospel has positively impacted the lives of me, my wife and our children.

Everyone has great ideas. Use them. I might offer one more option. You say that Mom and Grandma don't attend that often and there is little religious influence at home. If all else fails, maybe you should focus on getting Mom and Grandma to attend on a regularly basis and set an example for their children.

Maybe, maybe not. I am in a great ward. Don't think we have very many perfect people in our ward, but we are all on a journey together. The thing that impresses me the most about our ward is that even though they are imperfect, they are trying to be better people. I feel right at home in the ward. In fact, our ward is great, but I am willing to bet that it is pretty common. I think most every ward is filled with imperfect people who are doing their best to serve Heavenly Father, build up Zion, live righteous lives. It's easy to find fault in them, but it sure is more uplifting to see the good that they are trying to do.

Ignore my post, LolaBella because I am probably wrong, but it is a little food for thought. I am just curious, LolaBella, isn't believing the adversary, Satan, a sin? He's the one telling you that the false information about the Church is true. If you are choosing to believe Satan over the prophets of the Church then it seems to me like you are sinning. I am sorry I am so blunt, but when I was investigating the Church, I took a look at all that false information as well. I prayed about it and knew that the Church and the prophets are true. If I believe that they are true, then the false information has to be just that, false and it shouldn't be entertained. Once you start entertaining what Satan has to say, you might find that you start to believe it. He is cunning in his devices to lure people astray. President Utchdorff had a very good talk in General Conference on starting off just a few degrees off and ending up far from where you want to be.

I think our EQ would be happy if people would just bring their manuals with them on Sundays. I think the rate is just about 20%.

I think looking at how much tithing is taken in and then how much is distributed back in other ways is a more honest way to look at Church finances. One of the most interesting facts I have learned is how much the Philippines mission spends on missionaries and materials for each new convert to the Church. I did some simple math. If a convert has a good job and tithes honestly, it will take about 4 years before his tithings equal the conversion expenses. That's assuming that they don't go inactive during that time. That's just one expense of the Church. Take a look at the books. The Joseph Smith EQ book is an expensive one to print and distribute, but it's free. Look at Liahona. Subscriptions are 70 US cents per year in the Philippines. I'm sorry, but it's impossible to print up a glossy magazine and distribute it for just 6 cents an issue. That's a huge expense the Church covers. Look at the Employment Resource Centers that the Church funds. These centers help both non-members and members find a job. The materials are free. The Church covers the expenses. But none of this is really the crux of the matter. It all boils down to this, I think the Church is an excellent steward of our tithings.

Find the man a girlfriend. Tell him that you think he's a nice guy and you know he is interested in you, but you have someone very special in your life that you need to be devoted to and he is interering in it. Tell him that you and your friends will try to find him someone special in his life. Ask your friends to help you find him someone who would appreciate the attention. It sounds like you are dealing with a man who has problems with being lonely. I am sure there are women you or your friends might know who are dealing with problems of being lonely as well. Instead of seeing this as a negative in your life, see it as an opportunity that Heavenly Father has given you to help out this man.

Argh! Why don't you try reading it sometime! Thou shalt not speculate is found in The Book of Opinions. It's that special book of the bible that contains everything you know to be in the bible, but can't locate because it's not in any other book of the bible. Thou shalt not speculate is right between two other important verses, Thou shalt not eat cockroaches and thou shalt not send a text message while driving.

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Often, during testimony meetings or prayers or even talks done in a language I do not understand, I walk away feeling like I have understood what is said. That's the power of the Holy Spirit. It isn't speaking some unintelligible language just so others can think you are spiritually gifted.

I found it interesting what Bruce McConkie had to say about it: The Seven Deadly Heresies - Bruce R. McConkie Heresy two concerns itself with the relationship between organic evolution and revealed religion and asks the question whether they can be harmonized. There are those who believe that the theory of organic evolution runs counter to the plain and explicit principles set forth in the holy scriptures as these have been interpreted and taught by Joseph Smith and his associates. There are others who think that evolution is the system used by the Lord to form plant and animal life and to place man on earth. May I say that all truth is in agreement, that true religion and true science bear the same witness, and that in the true and full sense, true science is part of true religion. But may I also raise some questions of a serious nature. Is there any way to harmonize the false religions of the Dark Ages with the truths of science as they have now been discovered? Is there any way to harmonize the revealed religion that has come to us with the theoretical postulates of Darwinism and the diverse speculations descending therefrom? Should we accept the famous document of the First Presidency issued in the days of President Joseph F. Smith and entitled "The Origin of Man" as meaning exactly what it says? Is it the doctrine of the gospel that Adam stood next to Christ in power and might and intelligence before the foundations of the world were laid; that Adam was placed on this earth as an immortal being; that there was no death in the world for him or for any form of life until after the Fall; that the fall of Adam brought temporal and spiritual death into the world; that this temporal death passed upon all forms of life, upon man and animal and fish and fowl and plant life; that Christ came to ransom man and all forms of life from the effects of the temporal death brought into the world through the Fall, and in the case of man from a spiritual death also; and that this ransom includes a resurrection for man and for all forms of life? Can you harmonize these things with the evolutionary postulate that death has always existed and that the various forms of life have evolved from preceding forms over astronomically long periods of time? Can you harmonize the theories of men with the inspired words that say: And now, behold, if Adam had not transgressed he would not have fallen, but he would have remained in the Garden of Eden. And all things which were created must have remained in the same state in which they were after they were created; and they must have remained forever, and had no end. And they [meaning Adam and Eve] would have had no children; wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin. But behold, all things have been done in the wisdom of him who knoweth all things. Adam fell that men might be; and men are, that they might have joy. And the Messiah cometh in the fulness of time, that he may redeem the children of men from the fall. [2 Nephi 2:22*26] These are questions to which all of us should find answers. Every person must choose for himself what he will believe. I recommend that all of you study and ponder and pray and seek light and knowledge in these and in all fields. I believe that the atonement of Christ is the great and eternal foundation upon which revealed religion rests. I believe that no man can be saved unless he believes that our Lord's atoning sacrifice brings immortality to all and eternal life to those who believe and obey, and no man can believe in the atonement unless he accepts both the divine sonship of Christ and the fall of Adam. My reasoning causes me to conclude that if death has always prevailed in the world, then there was no fall of Adam that brought death to all forms of life; that if Adam did not fall, there is no need for an atonement; that if there was no atonement, there is no salvation, no resurrection, and no eternal life; and that if there was no atonement, there is nothing in all of the glorious promises that the Lord has given us. I believe that the Fall affects man, all forms of life, and the earth itself, and that the Atonement affects man, all forms of life, and the earth itself.

Welcome Chikako! Congrats on your baptism!

Welcome to the forum, like others, I'd love to RV. What a great chance you have to see many things.

Hola Matias! Welcome to the site!!!!!

I can't reiterate that one enough. When I got baptized, the floor of the font was slippery and it took me a few seconds to get my feet firm enough to come back out of the water. I was ok with it, but our friend who was baptizing me was a little scared and so where the people watching it.

Thanks for everyone's advice. The issue has been lovingly dealt with on both a ward and stake level. My bishop was great and easy to approach about this as was the Stake President. I was actually thanked for talking with them about it. I won't go into details about what was discussed, but not only was the situation dealt with, but action was taken to ensure that this doesn't happen again in the future.

You mentioned that the mother struggled for years on a low wage trying to raise her daughters. What if she had been a full tithe payer? Maybe her struggles might have been much easier to bear? I know this will sound cold hearted, but it's hard to feel the love when someone is refusing Heavenly Father's blessings.

Thanks Miss Halfway, I think they will. All of the PEC members speak English very well so I am not concerned at all about them understanding. I will take the advice to let them know the lyrics. Maybe read them out loud and tell them to stop me when it reaches the point of being inappropriate. It's a particularly hideous song because it gets in your head and you can't get it out. I have it ringing in my ears even now.....9 hours after the fact. Miss Halfway, it wasn't a YW activity. I pm'd you with the age group of the activity.

I don't want to give too many details right now, but there was an activity at Church today and it was something that made me uncomfortable at the time and right now it is bearing down heavy on me. I know it was done out of ignorance and I was probably the only person at the activity that what exactly was going on, but still I think it was wrong and I need advice. Right now, there is a song that is extremely popular locally. I stopped my own kids from singing it because I just knew it wasn't a proper song for them to be listening to. Today, in the chapel during an activity, the song was not only played but three primary girls were dirty dancing to it. Ok, I am a relatively new member so I really don't know how appropriate or not it is, but it left a bad feeling in my heart. I was asked to give the closing prayer for the activity, but I asked someone else to give it because I was still dumbstruck because of the activity. When I got home, I decided to look up the words on the net and that is when I got mortified. FLO RIDA - LOW LYRICS :eek: :eek: :eek: So, I need some advice: 1) Am I just an old prude and this was just a bunch of innocent kids and I should just let it be and let the kids all have fun. 2) Bring it up in private with the Bishop about my concerns. (The Bishop wasn't present at the time) 3) Bring it up in the PEC meeting. Again, I know it was intended to be a light hearted fun dance performance and I know NO ONE knew what the song was about. (I am not in the US, FYI.) I could really use some quotes from our prophets on if this kind of music is acceptable or not. Any advice would be appreciated, not only on how I should handle the situation as a member of the Church but also personally handle it.

You mean the collection plate that is passed around from person to person so that everyone in the church can see just how much you did or did not put in the plate? I think the way the church handles collections is perfect. I will second what Loud Mouth said about paying attention to who pays or doesn't pay. It simply isn't done when the tithes are counted. Everyone has much better things to do than to look at each tithing slip and compare it to the membership of the ward to decide who is or isn't a full tithe payer.

Pondering the statement from True To The Faith, it seems like the Church position is that the other English versions are not officially accepted as scripture. Wow, it's very clear. No room to dispute it.

Sure enough and here is the link: LDS.org - Topic Definition - Bible Furthermore in the book, True To The Faith (A Gospel Reference), on page 157, it states the following: I think this just about settles it. I think some have said that it isn't official, but that makes it clear. The King James Version is the official Bible of the Church.

Excuse me, they have voted for it and are in the process of approving the changes. Currently, Presbyterian Ministers are allowed to bless same sex unions. The bias of those doing the translations are very important and very much related to end results, the new versions. Your "facts" seem to be pointing out the errors of the using a King James version and getting people to use an alternative version. I disagree, none of us can say for certain that the King James version was or was not more accurate. PC, you seem to be going on and on about how these other versions are more accurate. Can you prove that they are more accurate or is it just the opinion of "experts"? Can you tell us why you want us to the trust the opinions of these "experts" instead of trusting our Church leaders? That's why you say, but it's not a fact. It's just an opinion. There seems to be manuscripts popping up all the time, saying this or saying that. When I look at all of these different bibles, it seems really confusing to me. I am certain of only one thing: The father of confusion is Satan. Are you saying that personal basis has never entered into the groups and scholars when they have been creating a version? I believe that the people doing the translations have let their opinions enter into the translations and that the versions are allowing false doctrines to exist and thrive. I am sure everyone involved in these bible projects are great people, but they do not have the Restored Gospel and they do hold incorrect beliefs.

For fun, take a look at Virgina Mollenkott: Virginia Ramey Mollenkott - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia She was responsible for making the wording on the NIV sound beautiful and flowing as the stylistic consultant. She advocates using a gender neutral term for God.....instead of Heavenly Father, she would prefer us to use Heavenly Parent, I suppose. Don't get me wrong she does have strong "family" values. According to her website:

Thanks for the link there. Again, I am sorry, but I am going to hesitate to take the advice on choosing a bible version from a denomination that feels that gay marriage is ok and allows openly homosexual men and women to be "priests." Of course, that's just me. I am really curious why you feel the need to keep harping on about all of these other versions being better than the KJV? Calling one version more accurate than another is merely guesswork and without the original manuscripts, it's impossible for any of us to make the claim that one translation is more accurate than other. Just because several works look the same, doesn't mean any of them are accurate. I trust the our prophets on this. As I have said before, until they say that another translation is just as good or better, I might read another version, but I will not RELY on another version. Traveler, yep, as the world gets more and evil and further away from Heavenly Father, the groups that advocate these changes are involved in translating/versioning the Bible more and more.