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Someone from our ward finally reached out to us
Notatbm replied to Notatbm's topic in General Discussions
Do you have an official church source that says signup lists or using signup genius and similar tools are prohibited? Are you saying church policy is for the executive secretary to literally call or corner each ward member in the hallway to set up appointments? If that’s the policy it’s freakin dumb. -
Someone from our ward finally reached out to us
Rain replied to Notatbm's topic in General Discussions
Honestly, it has been that way for some time. It has been 20+ years since my husband was exec secretary and he hated the change because he has always hated the phone even in chorded days. But being in 4 different wards and multiple bishops since then, I've noticed they didn't all follow the practice. You can tell, though when someone has been told from higher above them or they read the handbook or they decide it is important because they change and stop having signups. -
Someone from our ward finally reached out to us
Amulek replied to Notatbm's topic in General Discussions
No idea. Our ward hasn't sent out emails in forever. Everything we do gets posted on our ward website, which has since been taken offline and now merely redirects to our "official" ward website (which every ward now has). Our Elder's quorum has switched all our announcements over to a WhatsApp channel; youth groups are all using GroupMe; and I can't remember what the RS does - maybe they're still on Facebook? Point being, were you in my ward, the only way you would be getting almost anything is if you were participating in Church and got plugged into one of those communication channels, or if you were to actively go seeking information out on the ward website. Times they are a changing... -
Just saw this: Perspective: 7 signs your counselor may be undermining your faith Some excerpts: I have been wondering about what seems to be "a proliferation of therapy." From the Amazon blurb for Alpert's book: I've been wondering about this for a while. Jodi Hildebrandt and Barbara Snow, call your office. I've seen many people who have clearly benefitted from therapy. I've also seen people for whom therapy seems to be creating more problems than it solves. Mental health and its varying causes and influences can be hard to pin down and sort out. And it may be tempting for a therapist, when trying to sort out all that complexity, to tell himself that he is being objective and clinical in his assessments and recommendations, and that his therapeutic efforts are detached from his personal opinions about marriage, family, sex, religious, politics, and so on. Lawyers face a daily task of fulfilling our fiduciary duties to clients. These folks come to the lawyer with legal issues to sort out, and he does so for payment, fairly often a lot of payment. That payment stops when the legal problem is fixed, so there can arise a perverse financial incentive for the lawyer to extend or perpetuate those problems. Do therapists encounter similar perverse incentives? And not just financial, but emotional? I wonder if this is particularly important in places like Utah, where no small number of people have distanced themselves from religion, and may be lacking in impartiality when it comes to religious considerations in therapy. I would not want to seek counseling from a therapist who is hostile to my faith, or to faith in general. And perhaps the "pretend{ing} to be neutral" thing should sound a warning bell. I've wondered about this. Concepts like "my authentic self" and "my truth" seem to be unfalsifiable rhetorical cover and justification for the individual doing what he wants, detached from any external moral barometer. This one also carries particularized resonance for me. Having spent many years on this board, I have seen numerous instances of some disaffected/former Latter-day Saints, or else opponents of our faith, work hard to characterizing the Church's emphasis both on faith and and behavior, and self-denial and self-regimentation, to be "oppressive." Fortunately, these are just random and anonymous voices on a message board. I am free to heed or ignore what they have to say. A therapist, on the other hand, is going to be in a position of intentional and particularized influence and access to the individual. As an attorney, I have had effectively no need, or even opportunity, to address the role of religion/faith in a client's life. It's just not in my job to assess those things. Must be hard sometimes for therapists, particularly those hostile to religious faith, to perform such assessments. There is something to this, I think. "Trauma" is in there with "authentic self" and "my truth." Labels susceptible to being used to obscure more than to define or clarify. And then there's "mission creep." "Trauma" gets extended to non-traumatic or not-quite-that-bad sorts of challenges in everyday life. "{D}ifferentiate religious struggle from religious harm." If religious imposes on an individual an expectation to change one's behavior, or to refrain from a behavior, or to maintain a behavior, these can be challenging things to do. They can be a "struggle." But the struggle may nevertheless be appropriate and good. This is most acute when there are implicit or explicit expectations of maladaptive perfectionism in play. See here: What 18 years of research tells us about the mental health of Latter-day Saints A therapist who sees the Church as bad, and its behavioral standards as "oppressive," may have a hard time with this differentiation. I hadn't heard of this one. "Boundaries," like "trauma" and "authentic self" and "my truth," seems to be a concept susceptible to therapeutic misuse. Safeguards are appropriate. Good closing comments. Thoughts? Thanks, -Smac
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Someone from our ward finally reached out to us
Notatbm replied to Notatbm's topic in General Discussions
Y’all are doing it wrong if ur not taking your kids. Jesus wants them to be subjected to the audit too: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/general-handbook/34-finances-and-audits?lang=eng “34.3.1.2 Tithing Declaration The bishop meets with each member during the last few months of each year to receive his or her tithing declaration. In rare circumstances when the bishop is absent, the stake president may authorize one of the bishop’s counselors to fulfill this responsibility. All members are invited to meet with the bishop to: Declare to the bishop their status as tithe payers. Ensure their contribution records are accurate. Whenever possible, all members of a family, including children, should attend together.” -
Someone from our ward finally reached out to us
Notatbm replied to Notatbm's topic in General Discussions
Where did I suggest something abusive happened? To me? -
A.W. Smoot joined the community
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Someone from our ward finally reached out to us
Calm replied to Notatbm's topic in General Discussions
We never took our kids. Never were told to in any of the wards we attended. I will have to ask my son if he had his own as a minor once he got a job. He never wanted an allowance for chores. Same with daughter. I tried. -
Someone from our ward finally reached out to us
MustardSeed replied to Notatbm's topic in General Discussions
Look it sounds like you have really been deeply affected by something negative and what I do know is when we know more about someone we become more compassionate and we are less abrasive. Rain just reminded me of this. I am not one who gets negative feelings for those who leave the church, nor do I try to convince people to “come back” - but I have been known to hang with folks and genuinely befriend because I trust we will both benefit. if your ward experiences you like I do, I can understand their distancing, only because you come across as though you prefer (I) stay far away and your distain is abrasive. That said, you suggesting that something physically abusive occurred and hurt pokes at my compassion and I’m going to say this: in this moment I can understand not wanting to be a part of something at all but still feel abandoned. I’m sorry. -
Someone from our ward finally reached out to us
Notatbm replied to Notatbm's topic in General Discussions
so now the ward clerks are supposed to spend four months chasing people like the old days. If that’s the case I see ward clerks/ exec secretaries quitting a masse. Lol I don’t care they are not including us in anything, I was just mystified why no comm at all and after two plus years we get a tithing settlement invite. -
Someone from our ward finally reached out to us
Notatbm replied to Notatbm's topic in General Discussions
I’m not trying to unsubscribe. Was just trying to see what the setting is. We r on full visibility it would seem as we don’t have any of the orange shields applied to anything. Ur right it does.. what doesn’t is why we haven’t got any correspondence of any kind for two years but all of a sudden we get the tithing one. -
Someone from our ward finally reached out to us
Notatbm replied to Notatbm's topic in General Discussions
Every ward I have been in the entire family was invited. Growing up we went as a family. -
I've started just clicking on stuff that I think might be right and about 98% of the time it works. I used to low key stress about it but now I don't care enough.
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Someone from our ward finally reached out to us
bluebell replied to Notatbm's topic in General Discussions
I guess we never got the memo as we never took our kids with us until they were old enough to have a job and were paying consistent tithing themselves. -
Someone from our ward finally reached out to us
Amulek replied to Notatbm's topic in General Discussions
I think there are some pragmatic reasons for keeping it separate. Temple recommends are good for two years and can be renewed at any point in the year, so they don't provide a consistent annual declaration. Tithing also differs from WoW or chastity in that there's an annual financial record associated with it. The Church has to prepare annual contribution statements anyway, so having an annual declaration gives everyone a regular opportunity to make sure those records are correct. I agree that online access makes the record-review part less important than it used to be, but I can still see why the Church would have one annual process for everyone rather than tying it to the recommend cycle. -
Someone from our ward finally reached out to us
Amulek replied to Notatbm's topic in General Discussions
You can change the visibility settings under your profile. ChatGPT can give you instructions. If you really want to ensure nobody emails you anymore, then just change your email to be invalid. I keep a separate account to use on anything that requires an email as part of a signup; helps manage where all of those spam messages end up going (thanks Hotmail). Or maybe he has an AI agent linked to his email that is also linked to a shared calendar. Seriously, there are a million ways to do this kind of stuff now that these kinds of integrations are more widely available. But yes, it's certainly possible that they sent you a personal email to attend Tithing Declaration...you know, because it's that time of year. Yes. It does figure. And it will figure next year...and the year after that...and the year after that. So long as you remain on the rolls of the Church, you should expect to be invited to attend Tithing Declaration. Some years you might get a personal invite; some years you might not. If you don't want to attend, simply reply back to the email you received and tell them you aren't interested in attending, and then just report your status in the same email. Or don't. You're free to do whatever you want. It's your life after all. -
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Someone from our ward finally reached out to us
Rain replied to Notatbm's topic in General Discussions
Maybe they finally found out they aren't supposed to be doing that? I'm sorry that you haven't been shown concern from those in your ward. That can hurt. -
Someone from our ward finally reached out to us
Notatbm replied to Notatbm's topic in General Discussions
Ha yea. From a couple of them for sure. MESSAGES -
Someone from our ward finally reached out to us
Notatbm replied to Notatbm's topic in General Discussions
The entire time we have been in this ward we used signup genius ( I think that’s what it is called ) and it seemed at the time to work well. Previous was a signup clipboard just on the wall outside the clerks office. Everyone could see who was going and when. -
Someone from our ward finally reached out to us
Notatbm replied to Notatbm's topic in General Discussions
it is a way of applying additional pressure on a couple and doing it in front of their kids. It helps add legitimacy to the bishops position by parents sitting there allowing the bishop to give lessons on tithing to the kids and remind everyone of the fire insurance it provides. It ensures a continuity of contributions to the $300bn in assets already on hand. -
Someone from our ward finally reached out to us
Notatbm replied to Notatbm's topic in General Discussions
What is on display here is the fakeness of the church membership (at least in my ward). all the talk over all these years about leaving the 99 and going after the one, oh we love the Notatbm family in our ward etc, etc, etc. 100% fake and no better way to prove it than to disappear and whadda know.? Yep not a soul reaches out and you get the ward-wide silent treatment for two plus years and then all of a sudden… hey can you come in and talk tithing.? lol . it isn’t like we live ten miles from the nearest member and no one sees each other during the week. I see multiple ward members every day as our whole ward is within one 1/2 x 1/2 mile boundary so basically every other home is a ward member. All three members of our bishopric live within two blocks (5 min walk or less) of me. Keep in mind no one knows my issues as I have told them only to one person and it wasn’t the bishop. If everyone now knows and they wanna keep their distance from the toxic guy, well I can easily credit that to typical Mormon gossip if that is what happened. like I said I’m thankful no one bugs me. I’m a bit mystified after all this time to get one reach out and it’s about tithing… it figures why does it figure? Because the sec scandal was a large part of my leaving. I’m not about to take advice or listen to church leaders who engage in a conspiracy to hide funds from the membership and falsify documents filed to the government all in the name of getting continued tithing contributions among other reasons. I also have no respect for other lower leaders and members who support and sustain provably dishonest senior leaders. Thats why it “figured” that was the kind of communication I got. I am actually kinda satisfied that my decision is the right one. That is what satisfies me. -
A good Monopoly GO session starts before you touch the roll button. Have a quick look at the tournament, the main reward track, and whatever limited-time activity is live. If there's a Monopoly Go Partners Event running, it may be worth holding dice until your rolls can also earn event pieces. That's the difference between spending dice and getting real value from them. Don't play just because your counter is full. Give each session a job. Check what the board can give you Railroads, Chance spaces, pickups, and useful milestone targets should shape your multiplier. When you're nowhere near them, keep it modest: x1, x2, x3, or x5 is usually enough. You'll still move around the board, finish small tasks, and avoid burning through a pile of dice on empty stretches. Raise the multiplier only when the next few spaces look promising. It won't land perfectly every time, of course, but you're giving yourself a far better shot. A huge multiplier feels fun for about ten seconds, then the dice total disappears. Spend dice where rewards overlap The strongest turns are the ones that count toward more than one reward. Daily Quick Wins are great for this. You might collect cash, upgrade a landmark, and add tournament points in the same session. Check the reward in front of you before chasing it, though. A small cash prize rarely deserves a big push, while dice, premium sticker packs, or mini-game pieces can justify a longer run. Situation Best approach Quick Wins just refreshed Play enough to clear tasks alongside events Valuable milestone is close Use a measured multiplier near strong spaces Rewards are far away Collect free items and come back later Use a simple stop rule Plenty of players keep rolling after the useful targets have gone. That's when a short checklist helps. Run through it in order, then stop if nothing lines up. Claim shop gifts and open the Community Chest. Finish any easy Quick Wins that are still open. Check whether the next milestone offers dice, stickers, or event pieces. Save the rest when the tournament rank is out of reach. Let your album set the pace Sticker progress can change the whole plan. If one card would complete a set, prioritise pack rewards, Color Wheel chances, or a reachable tournament tier. That dice boost can fund your next proper event run. If your album is miles from a set, there's no need to force low-value packs and collect repeats. Keep your reserve for a better window instead. Players looking to finish missing sets may consider Monopoly Go Stickers buy as part of their planning, while still treating dice like a limited resource. Patience usually pays more than a bored roll session.
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Someone from our ward finally reached out to us
ZealouslyStriving replied to Notatbm's topic in General Discussions
Make up your mind. You say you are thankful no one is "harassing" you, yet you are on here going on about how no one has reached out to you. Will anything actually satisfy you?? -
Modern Warfare's multiplayer is at its best when a player's choices matter as much as their aim. Killstreaks can break a stubborn defence, but only when they fit the situation. On crowded urban maps, a quick scan, a well-timed air pass, or a roaming ground vehicle can open a route that gunfire alone cannot. If you're preparing for the next chapter often called MW4, these habits are worth learning early, and Modern Warfare 4 Boosting discussions often focus on the same question: how do you turn support tools into real map control. Read the Map Before You Spend The small explosive aircraft is most useful when enemies have settled into one place. Send it above rooftops, around a narrow lane, or behind a building where defenders feel safe. Do not rush the detonation. Take a second to watch the target area. A player leaving cover may be more valuable than the first opponent you see. On modes with a fixed capture zone, the aircraft can force defenders to move, split their attention, and give your squad a clean opening. You will soon notice that patience matters more than speed here. Air Support Needs a Prediction The Crossfire strike works best when it is aimed at movement, not empty ground. Watch the minimap. Listen for footsteps and nearby gunfire. If the other team has just lost a position, they will often rotate through the same street or doorway. That is where the Warthog run earns its value. The incoming jet also creates pressure before the first shot lands. Enemies dive indoors, abandon a lane, or stop watching the objective. Your team can use that pause to cross open ground or retake a contested area. Tool Strongest situation Main weakness Explosive aircraft Removing clustered defenders Limited payload and exposure to gunfire Crossfire strike Blocking rotations and street routes Needs accurate timing Wheelson-HS Holding lanes and narrow approaches Vulnerable without nearby cover Make the Ground Vehicle Work for You The Wheelson-HS is not just a mobile turret. On Karachi, its value comes from controlling awkward spaces between market stalls, buses, and tight corridors. Manual driving suits a sudden push, while Patrol Mode lets the vehicle watch a lane while you move beside it. Keep close enough to protect it from explosives, but do not stand directly behind it every time. That makes your movement predictable. Use the vehicle as a moving distraction, then swing wide when opponents focus on its armour and turret. Build a Simple Team Routine These tools are stronger when the squad uses them in sequence. First, gather information with the aircraft. Next, place the air strike where opponents are likely to retreat. Then send the Wheelson through the lane that has just been weakened. Call out what you see, even if the message is short. "Two in the market" is more useful than silence. Players comparing loadouts through cheap Modern Warfare 4 Boosting services should still remember that timing, communication, and restraint decide whether a streak creates an advantage or merely looks impressive.
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Endgame gear feels different once Transfiguration enters the picture. A weapon can look finished after weeks of work, then suddenly become a question mark again. That is why players comparing D4 items often care about more than affixes or Greater Affixes now. They want to know whether an otherwise brilliant piece is truly ready for its last major step. It is not just another stat boost. It can push a build toward a new role, or leave a player staring at a result that does not fit what they were trying to play. Why the Risk Feels So Personal The trouble is not uncertainty by itself. Diablo has always had uncertain loot. The issue is timing. By the time most players use Transfiguration, they may have already spent gold, materials, Masterworking resources, and plenty of evenings on that one item. A poor outcome can feel harsher because there is little room to steer it afterwards. Players do not mind working toward power. They do mind seeing a carefully prepared item lose its place in the build through a result they could not reasonably plan around. What Players Should Check First It helps to treat Transfiguration as a finishing decision, not a quick test on the first strong drop. You will usually save yourself frustration by checking the basics in order. Confirm that the item slot and base type serve the build. Make sure the key Greater Affixes are already there. Finish the important Masterworking targets first. Keep a second usable item if the main piece is hard to replace. Think about whether the possible result supports damage, survival, or utility. Approach What it offers Main concern Transform an unfinished item Lower emotional cost Resources may be spent on a weak base Transform a near-perfect item Highest possible payoff A mismatched result hurts far more Hold a backup first More freedom to experiment Needs extra farming and storage That extra preparation may sound cautious, but it changes the mood completely. Instead of putting your whole build at risk, you are making a calculated call. That is a much better fit for an endgame crafting system. Mythic Gear Needs Its Own Rules Mythic items make the argument sharper. These drops should feel exciting straight away, not like unfinished projects that require another nerve-racking decision. Recent adjustments that protect Mythic affixes and give added affixes maximum values are a good start. Still, special items need more than better numbers. They need clearer boundaries. A Mythic should allow sensible finishing work, such as sockets and Masterworking, while avoiding outcomes that make its defining strength irrelevant. There is a middle ground between handing out perfect gear and making rare loot feel fragile. A More Useful Way Forward Transfiguration has real potential because it gives players a reason to keep shaping gear after the usual upgrade path ends. The system would feel healthier if players could see broad outcome groups, choose a general direction, and pay more for a limited retry. That keeps the tension, but puts the focus back on judgement rather than fear. If you are looking to buy cheap D4 items for a new build, it is still wise to finish the controllable upgrades before taking that step. The strongest result should come from a prepared item and a clear plan, not blind hope.
