The Latter-day Saint Thread v. 8.0

[Pegasus]

Mine is Bruce R. McConkie, but he's the cousin of a great uncle, or something.
Rosie, I should have said something about that, too. No matter where your brother serves, he will be devoting two years to the Lord, growing like crazy, and sharing his experiences with you. My family was greatly blessed by my oldest brother's mission (as we have the mission on the other side of my brother who died).
Good call, Jenni.

[Rosie Cotton]

Well, I have a friend here who totally helped me out, and my testimony just took a huge jolt for the good because of the whole situation. I won't share everything over the internet. But my friend just said, "Pray to Heavenly Father and ask him to help you. Then open your scriptures randomly and read those two pages." I did it, and it turned out to be Doctrine & Covenants 18. It's the one about how sacred and important missionary work is. It's the section that houses the "The worth of souls is great in the sight of God." as well. It was just so amazing, and powerful.

Pegasus, I'm sure that your brother is doing GLORIOUS things in the spirit world, waiting for the first resurrection, and teaching those who need to find their way.

[Pegasus]

Originally Posted by Rosie Cotton

Well, I have a friend here who totally helped me out, and my testimony just took a huge jolt for the good because of the whole situation. I won't share everything over the internet. But my friend just said, "Pray to Heavenly Father and ask him to help you. Then open your scriptures randomly and read those two pages." I did it, and it turned out to be Doctrine & Covenants 18. It's the one about how sacred and important missionary work is. It's the section that houses the "The worth of souls is great in the sight of God." as well. It was just so amazing, and powerful.

Pegasus, I'm sure that your brother is doing GLORIOUS things in the spirit world, waiting for the first resurrection, and teaching those who need to find their way.

I'm very glad you're feeling better. Prayer does wonderful things.
I've seen/heard about only an inkling of what he's doing, and even that makes me cry when I think about it. I think if we could truly understand what's on the other side, we would feel very differently about death.

[AchelRay]

Originally Posted by Rosie Cotton

Well, I have a friend here who totally helped me out, and my testimony just took a huge jolt for the good because of the whole situation. I won't share everything over the internet. But my friend just said, "Pray to Heavenly Father and ask him to help you. Then open your scriptures randomly and read those two pages." I did it, and it turned out to be Doctrine & Covenants 18. It's the one about how sacred and important missionary work is. It's the section that houses the "The worth of souls is great in the sight of God." as well. It was just so amazing, and powerful.

That's really cool. Heavenly Father blesses us in so many ways if we just ask for the help amd comfort. My friend's brother just left to Brazil and she was having some difficulties saying goodbye as well. The thing that helped her the most was before he left they wrote each other letters that they wouldn't open until they were apart. After they read them they wrote back and that's how they started their family's letter exchange.

[Jenni Radcliffe]

That's awseome Rosie! I've had an experience a lot like that.

I'm very glad you're feeling better. Prayer does wonderful things.
I've seen/heard about only an inkling of what he's doing, and even that makes me cry when I think about it. I think if we could truly understand what's on the other side, we would feel very differently about death.

If we had any idea what the spirit world was like, we'd want to leave this world right away! lol

[AchelRay]

If we had any idea what the spirit world was like, we'd want to leave this world right away! lol

You're probably right about that.

[agpotter]

*interjects stream of LDS discussion*

If I may, I invite you all to visit this thread, check out the contestants for this week's fanart contest, and if you like mine best, cast a vote for me! Voting ends tonight at midnight! Let your voice be heard.

Now, resume conversation.

[Jenni Radcliffe]

whoops! I guess i was a bit late to vote for you, but don't worry... next time i'll vote for you! lol! Your drawings are alwaysmy favorite!!

[Pegasus]

Originally Posted by AchelRay

You're probably right about that.

Honestly, I think that's part of why we aren't all blessed with near-death experiences. I also believe we only tarry on the earth as long as we are needed, and if we're still here, our mission is not over.
Which is why it's so important to live every day as if it was our last. Procrasting repentance or not living up to our full potential, I believe, are essentially the same. It's wasting valuable time on this earth.
Okay, so I'm waxing deep today...

[Pegasus]

I'm double posting to move this back up. I'll delete one later.
It's not snowy yet, but it's getting cold. Time for sick kids and reflection.
I'm not sure why reflection. There just seem to be times that are more like that than others, and the weather turning cold seems to be one of them.
I was reflecting this morning on how glad I am to be me. I may admire other peoples' talents or other strengths, I may sometimes envy other people's lives, but with those other strengths and talents come other trials and weaknesses. Each of our trials are tailor-made to us, to our particular needs, personalities, and situations, and I definitely don't need other people's on top of my own.
I admit I seldom feel gratitude for my trials. Because I am feeling gratitude for my own individualized situation today, I thought I'd share.

[Ginny1976]

I know what you mean, Peg. It's so easy to look at others and think that we wish to have those attributes but I thought something similar yesterday when I was getting ready for Enrichment. My husband was asking if a certain lady goes and I told him no and he said if it was because a certain someone else doens't go also. And I said probably. But then I thought for a moment that I'm happy to be the way I am in that situation. That I'll still go even though my friends aren't there. That I'm not swayed like that. It was a nice feeling. I think usually we are so quick to dump on ourselves that we fail to recognize the things we are doing right.
So, yep, with all my failings and weaknesses, I am happy to be me too.

[Rosie Cotton]

We are waxing deep in here aren't we?

Well, as the other YW know, they have about 3 lessons a year on individuality, the gifts of strengths and weaknesses and whatnaught, so we get that a lot. I mean, it's true, but I get rather t.o.'d at the lessons that repeat themselves always.

Lessons that repeat obnoxiously:

Priesthood lessons
Temple marriage lessons
Lessons on Individual Worth/ Gifts of Strengths and Weaknesses
Chastity lessons (Oh those always pop up...about every month. And biannual ones with the bishop teaching them.)

[Pegasus]

Originally Posted by Rosie Cotton

We are waxing deep in here aren't we?

Well, as the other YW know, they have about 3 lessons a year on individuality, the gifts of strengths and weaknesses and whatnaught, so we get that a lot. I mean, it's true, but I get rather t.o.'d at the lessons that repeat themselves always.

Lessons that repeat obnoxiously:

Priesthood lessons
Temple marriage lessons
Lessons on Individual Worth/ Gifts of Strengths and Weaknesses
Chastity lessons (Oh those always pop up...about every month. And biannual ones with the bishop teaching them.)

Get used to it. Everything in the Church is repeated often. The chastity lessons become increasingly important as time goes on. When you get older it will be temple attendance, service, individual worth, repentance.
You'll notice there's really never anything "new" in General Conference, either. If there wasn't a pornography problem or if all families stayed intact or repentance and forgiveness were no longer necessary, it might change, but many things are constant and even more grow increasingly urgent. You'll learn to appreciate it.

[simplybecky]

I know what you mean. We were talking about this in my C.S. Lewis class the other day. There are many members of the Church that go to conference expecting (or hoping) to hear something completely new, but we hear the same stuff over and over again because it merits repeating. And it will still merit repeating until we, as members of the Church, start living the way we know we should. We need to be reminded constantly—I know I do, I'm not perfect—and so the general authorities are making sure that it happens.

Has anyone else seen the new movie? I saw it last night and, so far, it is my favorite. I think Mike Newell did an awesome job of making sure the actors were able to play to their strengths—this is the best rendition of Fred and George I've seen yet. There are parts I wish they wouldn't have taken out and parts I wish they would have kept the way they are in the books, but I stopped watching the movies as adaptations of the books a long time ago. I watch them now for (almost) entirely different reasons.

[GryffindorSeeker]

Yes, I saw it, and I was very happy with it. There were a couple things that I wished had been included, but it was packed as it was, and I loved it.

We had standards night last night, and the theme was the restoration. Every ward's youth sang, and it was very good.

[Pegasus]

I'm taking my niece on Saturday.
My ward choir sang in Sacrament Meeting today. I had a scare when we started our before-performance rehearsal ten minutes late and had only two choir members, but even with the small group I had (4 women and 6 men, only 1 of whom was a bass), it sounded quite nice.
One more month till Christmas. Which is a good thing, because that's really only 4 or 5 rehearsals, and our three pieces definitely need some work.

Hey, you know how they've changed Enrichment Night to a few times a year and they're supposed to start regular group activities? I filled out a survey but haven't heard anything yet. Has anyone else's gotten started? How's it working out?

[Jenni Radcliffe]

I loved lOvEd LOVED the movie! It was so good! My friend and i went to the 12:01 showing, and both of us absolutely agreed that it was the best yet!
I love my YW stake president! she is so awesome!!! We had a fireside and she spoke, and she is so amazing!

[Ginny1976]

Originally Posted by Pegasus

Hey, you know how they've changed Enrichment Night to a few times a year and they're supposed to start regular group activities? I filled out a survey but haven't heard anything yet. Has anyone else's gotten started? How's it working out?

It think that the new program is supposed to start next year. We also took a survey on what we were interested in. I think that we'll probably be hearing more about it next month. I am sad though that there won't be a monthly meeting. I look foward to that time with the sisters and away from my kids!! Most months, it's the only time out at night alone for me!

[Pegasus]

Originally Posted by Ginny1976

It think that the new program is supposed to start next year. We also took a survey on what we were interested in. I think that we'll probably be hearing more about it next month. I am sad though that there won't be a monthly meeting. I look foward to that time with the sisters and away from my kids!! Most months, it's the only time out at night alone for me!

Thanks. That makes more sense. I never actually heard the announcement or the letter or whatever form it came in because I've been subbing a lot in Primary and I had another meeting the night of the Enrichment where they seem to have discussed it.
I'm a little sad, too, but if my suggestions really come to be, I'll actually have more support and be able to make friends. Things like play/exercise groups where I get to know people my age and don't have to get babysitters.

[missypotter]

Thanks, Becky. I tried to stay to the end of the credits, but couldn't make it. I was wondering what was there.

The new Enrichment program starts in January. There will be 4 Enrichments with one being held in March to celebrate the organizing of the Relief Society. The mid week activities (which have always been part of the Enrichment/Homemaking program) will be emphasized and tailored to the needs of the individual wards. These will be held independently and based on a determination of needs/desires by the ward RS Presidency and Bishop. It is an attempt to reach the needs of the sisters in each ward. It should be interesting.