The Latter-day Saint Thread v. 8.0

[hotharry]

Hiya All! Happy Halloween. Today I dressed up as Hermione Granger and went to school with an english accent. Hee hee! I love it. Any excuse to use my well learned accent. Anyways I just thought I'd wish you all a spooky day and get some serious Candy tonight...that is all of you that can Trick or Treat. I'm way too old for that now. But my ward is having a killer Halloween Party. Not literally. See ya all!

[The Pirate King]

Yarr, 'tis the one day a year that I get no odd stares from releasin' the Inner Pirate!

Giving out lots and lots of candy this evening. The ward is having a Trunk-or-Treat, but the kids go door to door afterward anyway... any rate, y'all are invited to board the Pirate Ship Distress fer yer share o' the booty!

[Rosie Cotton]

My brother sent in his mission papers last week, and they could be coming this week. I'm nervous. I don't want him to go away.

(On Alma 43 and happy about that though)

[Jenni Radcliffe]

hey! Happy day after halloween! Last night my friend had a party, but some of the people were being stupid and power-boxing all of her neighbors, so my friends and i left and went trick or treating! It was so fun! I was a 70's girl! woo woo! My bangs were HUGE (I have side-swept bangs, but last night they were totally retro! lol!), and my hair was poofed huge! I love dressing up! It's so fun!
I'm on Alma 32! I figured out today that if I want to finish the Book of Mormon by December 23rd (I really want to finish it by Joseph Smith's birthday) I have to read about 2 chapters a day, give or take a few. I can do it! lol!

[AchelRay]

I got to take my little sisters trick or treating for the first time. Then I went with my neighbors to take their Japanese exchange student trick or treating for her first time. They are supposed to do cultural things with the students so this was really fun. Normally our ward has a really fun Halloween party that the youth do for the primary kids but this year we didn't do it. Tomorrow night we have to plan all the combined YM/YW activities for the entire year. I'm supposed to bring ideas as president. I don't have any ideas is the only problem with that. What were some of your favorite combined activities?

[GryffindorSeeker]

For us, combined activities meant soccer, broom hockey or basketball with half the girls sitting out, looking bored. I never sat out... I have to much energy.

[agpotter]

Yes, that was pretty much my scouting experience growing up. Nearly every week I ended up walking home rather than wasting another week playing basketball at the church.

[Pegasus]

My favorite nephew is getting baptized on Saturday. He called me personally to ask me to play the piano for him. Little kids are so cute when they call grown-ups and don't know what to say. I've been teaching him piano lessons, so I think it's great.
I appreciate that they (my sister and her son) thought of me. My other sister always gets someone in her ward, and I feel kind of sad but can't say anything. I feel like it's a special thing I'm able to do for my little nieces and nephews.
That said, my oldest daughter has more one year...Scary...

[agpotter]

I was asked to speak at my first nephew's baptism, and that was really nice too. My niece's is coming up next month! It's crazy how fast they grow up, but crazier, I'm sure, when they're your own.

[Jenni Radcliffe]

NOT ME!!! I love yw! 2 of my best friends in the world are with me, and we have so much fun! and then our leaders are not so much "leaders" as one of us! It's so awesome! It makes me so grateful for my Youth group!! Sometimes, the activities are SO boring, but my friends and I make them fun in our own little way! lol! I honestly can't think of the funnest combined activities, but if i think of any i'll tell ya!

[The Pirate King]

Originally Posted by agpotter

Yes, that was pretty much my scouting experience growing up. Nearly every week I ended up walking home rather than wasting another week playing basketball at the church.

NNngh. Visions of enforced Church softball are dancing in my head now. (Can you say "deep in right field, picking dandelions?")

But huzzah, those days are over and IT IS MY BIRTHDAY TODAY! *happy dance*

[Pegasus]

:happybirthday:
I realized after I posted last night that while my oldest will be turning eight a year from now, my oldest nieces will be turning 16!!! Cars and first dates...
YW sports programs are really the only exposure I've had to really playing sports. You don't get much in PE when you're no good. In YW they have to let everyone play. I wasn't any good, but I did my best, and those are the only real games I ever participated in.

[Rosie Cotton]

We did yoga this Wednesday at YW. I like yoga and do it all the time, so I was all cool with this, and the other YW are like, "Wow. How do you do that?" but I think it evened out, because I always stink at volleyball. We do some productive stuff, but the stuff that I like, the other YW are always sitting out and not participating because it's not "fun."

[agpotter]

Say, I hate to change the subject, but I really feel I have to...

Everyone within the reach of my voice... You must (and I mean MUST) see States of Grace (Richard Dutcher's follow-up to God's Army, imdb.com link here). It was by far the most transcendental experience I've had in a movie theater in years. This is a man who is taking the opportunity to actually say something with his movies, and boy does he ever say something.

Whatever you're doing tomorrow night, cancel, postpone, reschedule, and take as many people as you can gather to see this amazing film. If you want to watch a beautiful, artistic, powerful and moving film about the flawed nature of man and the incomprehensible power of Christ's Atonement, watch States of Grace.

[AchelRay]

Thanks to all for the ideas. With Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up I think right now might be the best time to aslk this so... am I the only one where all memories of family gatherings are in church cultural halls? My Grandma's house is to small to fit all of her eleven kids, their spouses, and all of the grandkids so all of my memories that involve that side of the family include that cultural hall. I have put on plays, played tag, celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas, and watched about three of my cousins be blessed in that cultural hall.

[Rosie Cotton]

Okay everyone...I'm feeling like I'm evil and selfish. My brother got his mission call to Russia (Siberia to be exact) and I don't want him to go. I know it's part of God's plan and all, and I feel like I'm going against God's will, because I'm just so close to him, and I don't want to go a year without him, let alone two.

Help!

[missypotter]

Rosie, have you asked someone close to you for a blessing? If there is someone you can express your feelings to and ask for help, it would be better than just being frustrated and resentful. A blessing could bring you the peace you seek. Just a thought.

[Lash Dresden]

Originally Posted by Rosie Cotton

Okay everyone...I'm feeling like I'm evil and selfish. My brother got his mission call to Russia (Siberia to be exact) and I don't want him to go. I know it's part of God's plan and all, and I feel like I'm going against God's will, because I'm just so close to him, and I don't want to go a year without him.

Help!

I think sitting down with your brother to discuss this would be the most helpful thing you could do. (Oh, and follow Missy's suggestion, too. )

On a different subject.
I have the most awesome bishopric! I never really felt that way until recently. My bishop has had some stress going on in his life (I have no idea what) and I've been praying for him a lot lately - and also his counselors. What a difference prayer makes. I see such wonderful things about them now. They are caring (I found out they've been worried about me, too - I was a subject of discussion in a recent Sunday morning meeting), they know more about what's going on in my life than I gave them credit for. I can't imagine where I would be without the gospel and the structure of the church.

[Pegasus]

Originally Posted by Rosie Cotton

Okay everyone...I'm feeling like I'm evil and selfish. My brother got his mission call to Russia (Siberia to be exact) and I don't want him to go. I know it's part of God's plan and all, and I feel like I'm going against God's will, because I'm just so close to him, and I don't want to go a year without him.

Help!

Rosie, how well do I know what you're going through. My brother was taken away from me when I was about your age. He was 2 1/2 years older than me and we were very close.
Yes, your brother is coming back, but two years is a long time. A priesthood blessing and lots of prayer will definitely help.
I also learned years ago that it's okay to tell Heavenly Father how you feel. He already knows, you know, so it's not like you're admitting something new, but if you tell Him then He can soften your heart and the two of you can really communicate.

[Jenni Radcliffe]

I'm sorry about that Rosie. Everyone's given you wonderful suggestions. Let me just put my two cents in.
My brother was not worthy to go on a mission, so therefore, he did not go. I know if he would've gone, i would have missed him SO bad, but I really wish he would have gone. He could've grown so much, and it would have been so good for him. Just think of how important this will be in your brother's life, and how much he and your family will be blessed. Just try to remember all the positive, and not think about negative.
One more point: My great uncle is the mission president in Russia. He is a GREAT guy! It will be awesome for your brother to get to know him if he is over your brother's mission. I'm sure a lot of you know who he is, Dennis Neuenschwander, he's a member of the 70.
it was weird, my sunday school teacher quoted him during class, and i was like, "wow! this is weird!" lol