Lost_one Posted February 16, 2009 Report Posted February 16, 2009 Hi guys, Due to work commitments, i was unable to goto church for over a year. Now that those commitments are over, this Sunday will be my first back. Im asking for prayers and maybe some words of wisdom, to help me make this step. If its ok, i would also like to tell you how it went, when i get back. Thank you John Quote
Optimistic_Trish Posted February 16, 2009 Report Posted February 16, 2009 John, good luck!! I was inactive for quite a few years and going back was way easier than I had anticipated. The ward was welcoming and the nice thing about the church is it remains the same!!! Good luck and let us know how it goes! Quote
Maxel Posted February 16, 2009 Report Posted February 16, 2009 John- Best of luck, man!! I don't have any words of wisdom, other than to pray a lot and keep your heart open to the Spirit. You're doing the right thing, and you WILL NOT regret it. I personally would love to hear about it when you get back!! Let us know, ok? Quote
nzorient Posted February 16, 2009 Report Posted February 16, 2009 Hey buddy, A couple of years ago, I had to work a rotating roster and was put on Sundays (also glad that those days are over), sometimes for 1-2 months at a time. Although it isn't as long as a year, when I could go back to church, that feeling of 'home', 'peace', 'see friends', 'charity' came back to me and it made me all warm and fuzzy. Just take it easy, enjoy the spirit and most of all, remember the Saviour who is the most merciful of all. If you keep your heart and mind open, I know the Holy Ghost will touch you on that day. Quote
Palerider Posted February 17, 2009 Report Posted February 17, 2009 I hope it goes great for you......thanks for sharing.... Quote
tanuvasamama Posted February 17, 2009 Report Posted February 17, 2009 Good luck! can't wait to hear how it goes! Quote
Wingnut Posted February 17, 2009 Report Posted February 17, 2009 I think it's awesome that you're starting back right away again. It can be really easy to not get back into it just because you've fallen out of the habit. Good for you! Quote
Lost_one Posted February 17, 2009 Author Report Posted February 17, 2009 Thanks guys. I will post when i get back from church. A year is a long time to be away. I did get to go once or twice in that time, But this time im done with everything, so theres nothing stopping me being at church. Just to point out, although i wasnt able to go, i never considered myself inactive. I have always tried to keep myself active, as much as possible. This website has helped alot with this. Quote
applepansy Posted February 17, 2009 Report Posted February 17, 2009 I'm looking forward to how it goes. Good Luck Quote
Lost_one Posted February 22, 2009 Author Report Posted February 22, 2009 Well guys, I got back from church a while ago. There was 3 talks. 1 on reading the scriptures, 1 on keeping the sabbath and cant remember the last one. I didnt go to Priesthood or Sunday school. It was actually not as bad as i expected. What i mean by that is, i expected it to be quite stressful and for people to be quite judgemental. It wasnt and they were not. One thing i will do next week is stay longer. As i was leaving, one guy asked if we were leaving already and it made me think. Im not very social, due to mental health. One way to deal with this is to actually stay longer and maybe try to make some friends there. Thanks for reading and im hoping this is the first of many Sundays. Quote
BenRaines Posted February 22, 2009 Report Posted February 22, 2009 The journey of a lifetime begins with one step. quoted by some unknown Asian philosopher. Great job Lost One. Ben Raines Quote
melissar Posted February 22, 2009 Report Posted February 22, 2009 I am glad to hear that it went well for you. Quote
Guest missingsomething Posted February 22, 2009 Report Posted February 22, 2009 Lost one.. Michael McKlean says... the first step back's the hardest. Im happy it went well... see, you are where you need to be! Glad you shared this with us. Quote
Lost_one Posted February 23, 2009 Author Report Posted February 23, 2009 Lost one.. Michael McKlean says... the first step back's the hardest. Im happy it went well... see, you are where you need to be! Glad you shared this with us.I had to really. I joined this site, knowing that one day i would be going back to church. This was my place to fellowship, to prepare myself if you will.Although ive tried like many who leave the church to deny it. The church IS true. No matter what you do in life and no matter how distant the church becomes from your life. When all is said and done. This is the true church. What people fail to grasp is that when you leave the church, you turn on it. The reallity is, the spirit continues to testify to its truthfullness. Thats why the hate towards the church is there. In the mind. Its the same whenever the mind fights the heart. The heart will continue to beat the same beat. Just like the spirit will continue to testify the same testimony. The mind is the part that must change. Its the mind that must make that step, the step that the heart has already made long before.Sorry kinda started rambling there. Anyway, what i ment was. Thank you. Quote
Lost_one Posted March 5, 2009 Author Report Posted March 5, 2009 (edited) Hi Guys, One of the things that im doing right now is having the missionaries round and the last couple times they have been here, they have brought with them a member of the church that runs a self help group, within the church. Its called, The Addiction Recovery Program. I went to it last night, for the first time. I learned alot about myself. Last nights lesson was on, Change of Heart. Basicly, to accept that your current thinking is wrong and to stop making excuses. To change from the inside out, instead of trying to do as the world does and try to change the outside first. I learned that most of my issues with church and people in general is down to my addiction to porn and not to other people just not getting me. I could even trace the changes in me to when my addiction started and my attitude changed. Before porn, i was a very spiritual person. Where most teens were drinking and taking drugs, i was praying to God and being a loving person. Yet here i am being selfish and self obsessed. The person i am now just isnt me. Its quite scary just how far i have fallen and how big the mountain ive created to climb. Its a big job, But at least ive taken the first few steps. Love John Edited March 5, 2009 by Lost_one Quote
blusun7 Posted March 5, 2009 Report Posted March 5, 2009 Welcome back!!! This site is a great site to talk to people or comment on peoples questions after reading and searching for the anwers yourself. It is helping me get back to church. your not alone. Pray always that the lord may prepare you a way and the spirit may warn you of dangers when near them.YOu doing a great thing. Quote
Maxel Posted March 5, 2009 Report Posted March 5, 2009 Lost_One: You're doing the right thing. I can promise you, 110%, that if you hold to the road you are on, you won't regret it. One thing I've learned that helps me stay for the whole church bloc (I also have mental health issues) is to pray in between every class for strength to survive the next one. It works. Are you seeing a counselor? If you could find an LDS counselor in the area, (s)he might be able to help you through a lot of the trials you're experiencing. And stick with the Addiction Recovery Program- it works wonders! Quote
Lost_one Posted March 5, 2009 Author Report Posted March 5, 2009 Lost_One:Stick with the Addiction Recovery Program- it works wonders!Well after only one meeting, i felt i learned alot so would very much recommend it to anyone who has it in there area. Im actually going to read through the first 5 steps and then reread #6 before going on to #7, which is on Humility. In fact, im going to start a thread on it, once ive read it. Hopefully people on here will have things to say on it, that i have not thought about.Oh, on the subject of counceling. Ive gone through that already. It helped me to get where i am just now. I was housebound for quite a while and therapy and counciling really got me going in the right direction. What i need now is spiritual healing. An LDS councelor would be good and could help though. Not sure if they have that here, But i could try to find out. Quote
Maxel Posted March 5, 2009 Report Posted March 5, 2009 Oh, on the subject of counceling. Ive gone through that already. It helped me to get where i am just now. I was housebound for quite a while and therapy and counciling really got me going in the right direction. What i need now is spiritual healing. An LDS councelor would be good and could help though. Not sure if they have that here, But i could try to find out. I think that's a good idea. A good, spiritual LDS counselor does wonders. However, my own counselor pointed out something to me this week. In my own life, I'm going to need to draw on many sources to be fully healed: first and foremost the Atonement of Christ, but also my counselor, my psychiatrist, my bishop, and my older sister. Maybe, if you feel the need, you could see about taking some medication.You're on the right path! Keep it up- We're cheering for you! Quote
Hemidakota Posted March 6, 2009 Report Posted March 6, 2009 Well after only one meeting, i felt i learned alot so would very much recommend it to anyone who has it in there area. Im actually going to read through the first 5 steps and then reread #6 before going on to #7, which is on Humility. In fact, im going to start a thread on it, once I've read it. Hopefully people on here will have things to say on it, that i have not thought about.Oh, on the subject of counseling. Ive gone through that already. It helped me to get where i am just now. I was housebound for quite a while and therapy and counciling really got me going in the right direction. What i need now is spiritual healing. An LDS counselor would be good and could help though. Not sure if they have that here, But i could try to find out.I am so glad for you.... Quote
Lost_one Posted March 6, 2009 Author Report Posted March 6, 2009 I think that's a good idea. A good, spiritual LDS counselor does wonders. However, my own counselor pointed out something to me this week. In my own life, I'm going to need to draw on many sources to be fully healed: first and foremost the Atonement of Christ, but also my counselor, my psychiatrist, my bishop, and my older sister. Maybe, if you feel the need, you could see about taking some medication.You're on the right path! Keep it up- We're cheering for you!Ive tried medication. Ive found that other things have worked better. Goal setting seems to be my way of moving forward. This Addiction course almost seems tailor made for me. Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.