Membership Without The Temple.

[EllenMaksoud]

So, life as a Mormon, loving Heavenly Father the last two or so years, has been the best. It is pleasant to be among people who are positive and loving. The only thing that is not pleasant is the well meaning who believe I should have Temple privileges. The questions coming from SLC are questions I answered before baptisim, and yes I am not proud of some of my past. They tell me that the Atonement took care of all that.

So, lets just bypass all the commerce about that. The upshot is that while people say I will get temple recommend, the whole stressful process has gotten to the place that it threatens my health. Too much stress. They say it is about patience, but that just shows they don't get it. It is about retraumatization from reliving the past.

So, can I be Mormon? I want to and can live with just volunteering a lot. I don't need the Temple because there is a lot to do without it. People say I need the blessings of going, but they do not understand that just being Mormon is a lot of blessing. They do not know what the past was like.

I have a friend in Bali that wants me to come there, and yes I checked, there are Mormons there. Would they want me? Other friends wish me to return to Islam. How can I give up Jesus Christ?

[Bill “Papa” Lee]

So, life as a Mormon, loving Heavenly Father the last two or so years, has been the best. It is pleasant to be among people who are positive and loving. The only thing that is not pleasant is the well meaning who believe I should have Temple privileges. The questions coming from SLC are questions I answered before baptisim, and yes I am not proud of some of my past. They tell me that the Atonement took care of all that.

So, lets just bypass all the commerce about that. The upshot is that while people say I will get temple recommend, the whole stressful process has gotten to the place that it threatens my health. Too much stress. They say it is about patience, but that just shows they don't get it. It is about retraumatization from reliving the past.

So, can I be Mormon? I want to and can live with just volunteering a lot. I don't need the Temple because there is a lot to do without it. People say I need the blessings of going, but they do not understand that just being Mormon is a lot of blessing. They do not know what the past was like.

I have a friend in Bali that wants me to come there, and yes I checked, there are Mormons there. Would they want me? Other friends wish me to return to Islam. How can I give up Jesus Christ?

The process is like anything else we work toward, it helps us to grow in character...all positive goals do this for each who pursuer them. Yes the Atonement does grant forgiveness for all sin, the purpose of the Temple is to insure we remain on that course. I have known people who have spent 20 years or more seeking to get there...It took me two years to the day. Some of that was money for travel...I had to travel two countries away. Edited July 26, 2013 by Bill “Papa” Lee

[HairBear]

I have been a member of the Church almost all my life, my parent joined when I was 5, and I'm now 36, and I have yet to go to the Temple. I shall go when I am ready and able, and I don't feel any less Mormon that anyone else in the Church.

IMO you should just do what you are doing, enjoy being a member of the Church, and don't worry about the Temple, but have it as a goal once you are ready and able to go, whether that takes weeks, months or even years.

[Calm]

So, can I be Mormon? I want to and can live with just volunteering a lot. I don't need the Temple because there is a lot to do without it.

while the temple is wonderful, it is not necessary to live a full life as an Lds. In fact, in the past most single women didn't go to the temple, not even when they got older and unlikely to marry.

Perhaps responding that you will know it's time when the Lord smooths your path to it will encourage people to stop pushing so hard.

Edited July 27, 2013 by calmoriah

[EllenMaksoud]

while the temple is wonderful, it is not necessary to live a full life as an Lds. In fact, in the past most single women didn't go to the temple, not even when they got older and unlikely to marry.

Perhaps responding that you will know it's time when the Lord smooths your path to it will encourage people to stop pushing so hard.

I responded to the invitation of a friend and went to my old Mosque to share "fast ending" with her tonight. I think I may now know what the obstacle is with the GA. I believe and told the Missionary President at my baptismal interview, that I still believed in the Prophet Muhammad and the holy Qur'an, and that belief is what made believing in Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon rather easy for me.

One of our past presidents said that Muhammad was a prophet. That may be holding them up. I am no longer like most Americans and have caught the vision to see the people of other nations as my friends.

[Robert F. Smith]

So, life as a Mormon, loving Heavenly Father the last two or so years, has been the best. It is pleasant to be among people who are positive and loving. The only thing that is not pleasant is the well meaning who believe I should have Temple privileges. The questions coming from SLC are questions I answered before baptisim, and yes I am not proud of some of my past. They tell me that the Atonement took care of all that.

So, lets just bypass all the commerce about that. The upshot is that while people say I will get temple recommend, the whole stressful process has gotten to the place that it threatens my health. Too much stress. They say it is about patience, but that just shows they don't get it. It is about retraumatization from reliving the past.

So, can I be Mormon? I want to and can live with just volunteering a lot. I don't need the Temple because there is a lot to do without it. People say I need the blessings of going, but they do not understand that just being Mormon is a lot of blessing. They do not know what the past was like.

I have a friend in Bali that wants me to come there, and yes I checked, there are Mormons there. Would they want me? Other friends wish me to return to Islam. How can I give up Jesus Christ?

Don't worry, Ellen. I was an adult member for a long time many years ago without a temple recommend, and I didn't give it a second thought. I had other things on my mind. It will happen when it happens. You are as good a member as anyone else. You are on a path, just like everyone else. No two people are at the same place on that path. Just remember that a path is not a home and go forth at your own pace. God doesn't care where you are right now. Only that you make some progress from time to time. And He'll help you along the way, just as He did for me.

[EllenMaksoud]

Don't worry, Ellen. I was an adult member for a long time many years ago without a temple recommend, and I didn't give it a second thought. I had other things on my mind. It will happen when it happens. You are as good a member as anyone else. You are on a path, just like everyone else. No two people are at the same place on that path. Just remember that a path is not a home and go forth at your own pace. God doesn't care where you are right now. Only that you make some progress from time to time. And He'll help you along the way, just as He did for me.

But I didn't do anything wrong! Sigh, they must see something. I give up, your'e right.

[thesometimesaint]

I responded to the invitation of a friend and went to my old Mosque to share "fast ending" with her tonight. I think I may now know what the obstacle is with the GA. I believe and told the Missionary President at my baptismal interview, that I still believed in the Prophet Muhammad and the holy Qur'an, and that belief is what made believing in Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon rather easy for me.

One of our past presidents said that Muhammad was a prophet. That may be holding them up. I am no longer like most Americans and have caught the vision to see the people of other nations as my friends.

There is nothing wrong with going to the Mosque a with friend, and partaking of the activities there. Even recognizing Muhammad as a prophet isn't a big problem. Though depending on to what extent you belive him to be the only prophet of God it may cause some problems.

I'm not GA(Thankfully) If you can answer these questions hinestly and correctly. I wouldn't have a problem with a belief in Muhammad as a prophet.

1. Do you believe in God, the Eternal Father, in his Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost; and do you have a firm testimony of the restored gospel?

2. Do you sustain the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the prophet, seer, and revelator; and do you recognize him as the only person on the earth authorized to exercise all priesthood keys?

3. Do you sustain the other General Authorities and the local authorities of the Church?

[EllenMaksoud]

There is nothing wrong with going to the Mosque a with friend, and partaking of the activities there. Even recognizing Muhammad as a prophet isn't a big problem. Though depending on to what extent you belive him to be the only prophet of God it may cause some problems.

I'm not GA(Thankfully) If you can answer these questions hinestly and correctly. I wouldn't have a problem with a belief in Muhammad as a prophet.

1. Do you believe in God, the Eternal Father, in his Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Ghost; and do you have a firm testimony of the restored gospel?

2. Do you sustain the President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as the prophet, seer, and revelator; and do you recognize him as the only person on the earth authorized to exercise all priesthood keys?

3. Do you sustain the other General Authorities and the local authorities of the Church?

Of course the answer to those questions is yes, and a resounding one. The earth is a very big place, and I sometimes wonder why not a prophet per continent, but it is just a question.

I often wonder about my own worthiness, but that doubt is something that was conditioned into me very early, and it has been a life time working that out.

[rpn]

It is normal for ward leaders to encourage new members or old time members who do not have temple recommends to prepare to go to the temple. People don't know your circumstances. When they bring it up, just smile and say you are working on it and would appreciate if they would never mention it to you again. Tell your HTer and VTer to tell leaders how hard the journey is when people start asking you about the temple (you don't need to tell them why) and to stop doing it. Give them permission to tell other ward members to stop asking you about going to the temple. The word will get around.

Sure you can move to places in the world in which few members can afford to go to the nearest temple, and therefore the issue of temple attendance is not as common as it may be where you are now. But your situation is simply an anomaly. It will help if you just focus on getting everyone else to shut up about it, rather than on the temple issue itself.

[Tacenda]

I disagree with RPN, though it just might work, but think that no one should have to squelch truth for a face save. It's better for the individual to be open and honest, especially when leaders might need to be aware of these things in order to take it to the Lord. The more people are aware of things that are possibly incorrect, the more might be done about it. Unless of course, Ellen, that you would prefer to not bring up your situation in full. But think it unfair to totally go through the repentance process, yet still be refused the recommend. I wonder if the prophet and the leaders have prayed as hard as they could about it, to get the answer?

[EllenMaksoud]

I disagree with RPN, though it just might work, but think that no one should have to squelch truth for a face save. It's better for the individual to be open and honest, especially when leaders might need to be aware of these things in order to take it to the Lord. The more people are aware of things that are possibly incorrect, the more might be done about it. Unless of course, Ellen, that you would prefer to not bring up your situation in full. But think it unfair to totally go through the repentance process, yet still be refused the recommend. I wonder if the prophet and the leaders have prayed as hard as they could about it, to get the answer?

I have been open, brutally honest, and absolutely point blank and that was at my Baptism Interview. At the time the Missionary President aproved but with the caveat that there would be no temple. I cried, calmed myself and eventually moved on. After all this is about MY relationship to Heavenly Father, and not about convincing people who live in the 19th century. I have been absolutely obedient to every thing that has been asked of me. I NEVER drank, smoked or had coffee to the extent that it would be an issue, so once I knew about D&C 89, it did not take much convincing. I wanted to protest about my drinking ONE cup of very weak coffee with lots of creme and sugar, but the Holy Spirit took it from me without even a struggle.

It was then that I knew for sure that I was dealing with something much bigger than I. What choice was there but to obey? If in my heart I believed in and loved Heavenly Father, what choice could there be but to obediently follow.

So, it is not daemons that torment me, but members who mean well but do not think. It is about leaders around me that wish to have ruction with other leaders and convince the GA that I am an angel, or something.

Worst case, I may leave the church over it. Curiously, it seems that I have had my cry over all this and know my direction now. I will just keep working and hope that others just shut up.

Edited July 27, 2013 by EllenMaksoud

[thesometimesaint]

Please don't leave the Church over this. We all have a bad case of foot-in-mouth disease on occassion. Just be the best person you can be. No righteous desire you have will be denied you, even if it takes your entire earthly sojourn to achieve it.

The Temple is a wonderful place, and I recommend it to all the Saints, but it is not a requirement in this life to gain the highest degree of glory in the Celestial Kingdom.

[theplains]

One of our past presidents said that Muhammad was a prophet.

Did this past president know Muhammad's teaching of Jesus in the Quran ... that he did not

get crucified on the cross and was not resurrected?

Regards,

Jim

[EllenMaksoud]

Did this past president know Muhammad's teaching of Jesus in the Quran ... that he did not

get crucified on the cross and was not resurrected?

Regards,

Jim

Now, you'd have to go read the Book of Nicodemus for the real story that Muslims believe. Yes, that book was considered for the "Canon" but rejected. You see Muslims are just as vapidly ignorant as Christians are. Muslims sit around and rely on some Imam or Sheik to teach them, just like apostate christians hang on every word of their pastor; seldom bothering to study for themselves.

I sat with a Shia Muslim Sheik two weeks ago and we talked about Jesus the Christ or Isa PBUH. They believe exactly the same thing that Mormons do about Jesus the Christ. The only area of discussion is that their position is that God decieved the crowd to think that Judas was Jesus and they crucified Judas. Jesus was taken up by Heavenly Father and later returned to be seen by the Apostles and others.

I just don't know what to do with the nail holes. I have seen enough chrisitans and others acting badly over really minor things, that I am willing to hold two opinions in my head until Heavenly Father makes it all clear. I believe other, non-conformist things and perhaps that has cost me time in the temple.

Edited August 5, 2013 by EllenMaksoud

[theplains]

I sat with a Shia Muslim Sheik two weeks ago and we talked about Jesus the Christ or Isa PBUH. They believe exactly the same thing that Mormons do about Jesus the Christ.

Did this Shia group believe, like the Mormons do, that Jesus is the Eternal God and

the Lord Omnipotent, from all eternity to all eternity as the Book of Mormon teaches

in 2 Nephi 26:12 and Mosiah 3:5-8?

I just don't know what to do with the nail holes.

The Bible speaks of his crucifixion and resurrection. But the Quran shows that God

deceived both the enemies and followers of Jesus at the cross.

Jim

[EllenMaksoud]

Did this Shia group believe, like the Mormons do, that Jesus is the Eternal God and

the Lord Omnipotent, from all eternity to all eternity as the Book of Mormon teaches

in 2 Nephi 26:12 and Mosiah 3:5-8?

The Bible speaks of his crucifixion and resurrection. But the Quran shows that God

deceived both the enemies and followers of Jesus at the cross.

Jim

Frankly, Jim, I do not have all the answers. All I know is that the Jesus people abandoned me after I failed greviously, not even trying to help restore me. In desperation, I became Muslim because I still loved the "ONE God", though I did not know about this Jesus Christ or his followers at they time. In about 7 years, Heavenly Father must have started to forgive me. The number 7 has some significance in the Bible, but I do not know if my time alone is related. Though I did not deserve it, Heavenly Father placed me in the care of the Mormons, and since that day, I have done my utmost to please Heavenly Father. I attend church every Sunday and help when I am asked and when I am not. The Mormons are the most loving people I have ever encountered. I do not have all the answers.

[theplains]

Frankly, Jim, I do not have all the answers. All I know is that the Jesus people abandoned me after I failed greviously, not even trying to help restore me. In desperation, I became Muslim because I still loved the "ONE God", though I did not know about this Jesus Christ or his followers at they time.

Do you have a testimony that Heavenly Father was once a man who became a God (as the

LDS Church founder taught) or is your testimony that Heavenly Father has always been God?

If you don't have either of these two testimonies, may I suggest you ask the Holy Spirit for

inspiration and then let me know what answer you receive.

Thanks,

Jim

Do not ask people to divulge personal spiritual beliefs.

[EllenMaksoud]

Do you have a testimony that Heavenly Father was once a man who became a God (as the

LDS Church founder taught) or is your testimony that Heavenly Father has always been God?

If you don't have either of these two testimonies, may I suggest you ask the Holy Spirit for

inspiration and then let me know what answer you receive.

Thanks,

Jim

The Bible does not tell us., and I am not as familiar with the BOM as I am the Bible. I am a recent convert. (January 30,2012).

Genesis 1 says: "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth". Later in John 1 says: "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." I have seen very educated men take those two passages apart a dozen different ways and not agree on what they found. In D&C 130:22 Says that God has a body of flesh and bone. My opinion is that GOD can have a body of flesh and bone, and is not limited to that. To say he only has a body, in my opinion is disrespectful and arrogant. (Isaiah 40:18) (Job 11:7).

I have laid on my belly before God, sobbing and asking for death. I know what complete and utter disgrace is.

I believe God is in the form he wishes to be. And that is as far as I will go.

[Calm]

Do you have a testimony that Heavenly Father was once a man who became a God (as the

LDS Church founder taught) or is your testimony that Heavenly Father has always been God?

If you don't have either of these two testimonies, may I suggest you ask the Holy Spirit for

inspiration and then let me know what answer you receive.

Thanks,

Jim

It is not an either/or situation. Depending on how one defines how one is talking about God, whether one is talking about attributes that allows the Father to take on the role of Father, etc. one can believe both...that the Father has always been what makes him God for us as well as being an exalted man who has progressed eternally. Edited August 7, 2013 by calmoriah

[EllenMaksoud]

It is not an either/or situation. Depending on how one defines how one is talking about God, whether one is talking about attributes that allows the Father to take on the role of Father, etc. one can believe both...that the Father has always been what makes him God for us as well as being an exalted man who has progressed eternally.

I forgot eternal progression. At some place/time God could have been a gas cloud that became organized I suppose. The first time mankind comes in contact with God is at the time of what we call The Creation.

[Storm Rider]

So, life as a Mormon, loving Heavenly Father the last two or so years, has been the best. It is pleasant to be among people who are positive and loving. The only thing that is not pleasant is the well meaning who believe I should have Temple privileges. The questions coming from SLC are questions I answered before baptisim, and yes I am not proud of some of my past. They tell me that the Atonement took care of all that.

So, lets just bypass all the commerce about that. The upshot is that while people say I will get temple recommend, the whole stressful process has gotten to the place that it threatens my health. Too much stress. They say it is about patience, but that just shows they don't get it. It is about retraumatization from reliving the past.

So, can I be Mormon? I want to and can live with just volunteering a lot. I don't need the Temple because there is a lot to do without it. People say I need the blessings of going, but they do not understand that just being Mormon is a lot of blessing. They do not know what the past was like.

I have a friend in Bali that wants me to come there, and yes I checked, there are Mormons there. Would they want me? Other friends wish me to return to Islam. How can I give up Jesus Christ?

Hello Ellen, this single question is my guiding light. I cannot give up Jesus Christ for any other benefit that may be available in other religious traditions. I deeply appreciate Islam and could easily fold into their wonderful way of life here in Abu Dhabi, but I cannot forsake my knowledge and relationship with the Savior. I love so many things about Catholicism, but there are things that quickly affront my spiritual sense of what is true and what is not. You should go wherever you feel directed or where you feel is acceptable to your Father in Heaven. I have learned that it is not about where I live in life, but it is about where I am spiritually. I realize that I can find great contentment wherever I am because I know that I am a disciple of Jesus Christ; he is my Master and my intermediary to the Father. I can have disagreements with leaders and other members; I can experience sharp, bitter pain with the challenges that life presents, but I know He lives and I find peace in Him.

[EllenMaksoud]

Hello Ellen, this single question is my guiding light. I cannot give up Jesus Christ for any other benefit that may be available in other religious traditions. I deeply appreciate Islam and could easily fold into their wonderful way of life here in Abu Dhabi, but I cannot forsake my knowledge and relationship with the Savior. I love so many things about Catholicism, but there are things that quickly affront my spiritual sense of what is true and what is not. You should go wherever you feel directed or where you feel is acceptable to your Father in Heaven. I have learned that it is not about where I live in life, but it is about where I am spiritually. I realize that I can find great contentment wherever I am because I know that I am a disciple of Jesus Christ; he is my Master and my intermediary to the Father. I can have disagreements with leaders and other members; I can experience sharp, bitter pain with the challenges that life presents, but I know He lives and I find peace in Him.

I try not to like or dislike other religons, though the Ev one I used to be in put me through so much pain. I know one thing for sure and that is I love, respect, reverence, and fear the Creator, whether as Muslim or Mormon. The way religions try to represent Jesus the Christ is just barmy to me. I probably believe everything about Jesus Christ that you do, except I foolishly ask questions out loud; constantly analyzing; incessantly trying to understand Heavenly Father's purpose in all chaos. Heavenly Father is the single unifying force in a universe that is chaotic. Why oh why can I just not sit quietly in the pews, take the sacrament, give a cute acceptable testimony, and behave?,

I'm still, in many ways, the same little girl that could not learn to read until I was in the 6th grade when the teacher gave me a book that I had a story in it that I wanted to understand. Fiendishly, she read the first few pages to me and then told me I would have to read the rest of it myself! I would tear a clock apart just to see what was there and leave the parts laying there. In the kitchen, I was a terror. My cooking was um interesting. Before the Ronald Reagan years, I would have been locked up somewhere safe, perhaps.

So, for me, religion, especially those Mormons, is something that I can not truly understand. That Mormons would happily take me on as a project is unfathomable to me, and thankfulness infuses my body. Of confusion to Mormons is that I am the sum total of my experiences; all of them. Even the best Psych people are confounded. I'm not going into the whole shocking story, but I was not raised in a nice little Mormon home in Utah. So, going from trying to not lay on my bruises, and trying to find a dry spot on my wet pillow to a smiling, happy Mormon girl is a quantum leap for me, and I have mostly done it. Though at times the Holy Spirit had me by the wrist dragging me.

So, please try to be patient with me. I feel like, I've been taken out of the dirty gutter and dragged into the palace.

As for Jesus the Christ, though Muslims recognize him the same way that Mormons do, there is a cultural ruction regarding the crucifixion and resurrection. It does not threaten me or my beliefs, and you can be certain that if someone returns that fits the description of Jesus Christ, I will obey him. PS. Did you somehow edit your post from last night? Today, it seems very different from what I read 12 hours ago.

[theplains]

The Bible does not tell us., and I am not as familiar with the BOM as I am the Bible. I am a recent convert. (January 30,2012).

Several passages in various Mormon scriptures describe God as always being God.

The Book of Mormon (in Mosiah 3:5) - "The Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is

from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of

men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working

mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk,

the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of

diseases".

"And God spake unto Moses, saying; behold, I am the Lord God Almighty, and Endless is

my name; for I am without beginning of days or end of years; and is not this endless?"

(Moses 1:3).

"For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is

unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity" (Moroni 8:18).

"By these things we know that there is a God in heaven, who is infinite and eternal,

from everlasting to everlasting the same unchangeable God, the framer of heaven and

earth, and all things which are in them” (D&C 20:17).

"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and

Amen” (Ps. 41:13; 90:2; 93:2).

Joseph Smith may have started well, but then he began teaching a god that was not the

"everlasting to everlasting" God. "It is necessary we should understand the character

and being of God and how He came to be so; for I am going to tell you how God came

to be God. We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will

refute that idea, and take away the veil, so that you may see" (History of the Church,

volume 6).

I have heard from my conversations with Mormons that there is diversity on this matter.

Some believe God is an exalted man while others are not quite sure.

Regards,

Jim

[EllenMaksoud]

Several passages in various Mormon scriptures describe God as always being God.

The Book of Mormon (in Mosiah 3:5) - "The Lord Omnipotent who reigneth, who was, and is

from all eternity to all eternity, shall come down from heaven among the children of

men, and shall dwell in a tabernacle of clay, and shall go forth amongst men, working

mighty miracles, such as healing the sick, raising the dead, causing the lame to walk,

the blind to receive their sight, and the deaf to hear, and curing all manner of

diseases".

"And God spake unto Moses, saying; behold, I am the Lord God Almighty, and Endless is

my name; for I am without beginning of days or end of years; and is not this endless?"

(Moses 1:3).

"For I know that God is not a partial God, neither a changeable being; but he is

unchangeable from all eternity to all eternity" (Moroni 8:18).

"By these things we know that there is a God in heaven, who is infinite and eternal,

from everlasting to everlasting the same unchangeable God, the framer of heaven and

earth, and all things which are in them” (D&C 20:17).

"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and

Amen” (Ps. 41:13; 90:2; 93:2).

Joseph Smith may have started well, but then he began teaching a god that was not the

"everlasting to everlasting" God. "It is necessary we should understand the character

and being of God and how He came to be so; for I am going to tell you how God came

to be God. We have imagined and supposed that God was God from all eternity. I will

refute that idea, and take away the veil, so that you may see" (History of the Church,

volume 6).

I have heard from my conversations with Mormons that there is diversity on this matter.

Some believe God is an exalted man while others are not quite sure.

Regards,

Jim

You are not Mormon then?

Perhaps I should learn to keep my own counsel? I don't believe in anything being eternal personally. It extends beyond the limits of my imagination. However if Heavenly Father is eternal, my questioning will not bother him because he will not change, but I surely will. Unlike others, most of the foundation for my belief comes from within my very cells, having been written there at my forming. That my mind can not grasp the magnificence of God, hopefully will not be seen as lack of adoration.

My experience with those Mormons has left me completely astonished.

If I am not off volunteering, or visiting, I sit in these rooms, void of guidance save what I can find in my own prayers, or readings. My own Bishop recently informed me I can have husband. Friends persuaded me to remove my wedding ring. I wonder what will happen now.