cursor Posted September 12, 2014 Posted September 12, 2014 "Happiness" can indeed be difficult, even among the staunchest believers (be it husband, wife, child, etc). Be aware, think, take responsibility, and then constantly adjust.
ERayR Posted September 12, 2014 Posted September 12, 2014 Exactly. To really know or define happiness for you, someday you might have to wear someone else's moscassins. Unless you have walked that mile in openness and love, you will be content, but maybe not really happy or understanding. Having been on both sides of the fence, my religion is still kindness. Hugs,Jeanne I am not sure that "walking a mile in somebody's moccasins" is all that profitable until we have become comfortable walking in our own. It may give some insight into them but be of no value in solving our own problems.
cursor Posted September 12, 2014 Posted September 12, 2014 (edited) The experience of others' "moccasins" may well serve us to understand our own journey, and to elucidate that who occupy those helpful moccasins. We all need help. We all need to look around and evaluate. We all constantly need to adjust our life paths. Edited September 12, 2014 by cursor
ERayR Posted September 12, 2014 Posted September 12, 2014 I know many ... yes, that would be MANY former and [still] current friends who have thoughtfully chosen alternative paths to Mormon life. Hell, who am I to judge? There are all sorts of combinations of life experiences that lead us to where we are, and to what we will become. That is what it's all about, after all. Right? Informed choice. Of the eleven companions I had as an LDS missionary, less than half are currently active members of the LDS faith. That hardly means that they're not happy in life. The single guy that I respect the most probably had a more dramatic early life experience than any of us. Born in ID, he grew up in North Africa (son of a US ambassador). His home was invaded multiple times by local militants ... guns pointed at their family's heads. He was pre-teen at the time. I plan on hooking up with him this coming week in SLC. Our unique life experiences are so varied ... and deserve serious consideration/recognition.Life is short. With respect to eternal progress, there are no limits. Learn ... move forward ... learn, then move forward. My life is not yours. Its significance can't reasonably be appreciated by anyone else but by me (and only by me ... if I try really intently) And, your life is not mine. I can't pretend to understand its full complexity. I can, however, always make an honest attempt to appreciate the meaning ... the complexity ... of the lives of others (including very close friends). I look at as a sifting and sorting and not a pass/fail.
cursor Posted September 12, 2014 Posted September 12, 2014 (edited) Sorry ERayR, I'm not sure what you might mean. A clarification would be helpful. Thanks. Edited September 12, 2014 by cursor
cursor Posted September 12, 2014 Posted September 12, 2014 Looking at it again, I think I see your point, ERayR. Thanks for your comment.
ERayR Posted September 12, 2014 Posted September 12, 2014 Sorry ERayR, I'm not sure what you might mean. A clarification would be helpful. Thanks. Mortality is not a pass/fail but a chance to find your comfort zone for future assignments. God will force no one into an eternal existence where they would be uncomfortable(happy). 1
VideoGameJunkie Posted September 12, 2014 Author Posted September 12, 2014 I do like ERay's advice about finding our comfort level and where we fit in, but shouldn't we all shoot for the top? (Celestial Kingdom) I would hate to be more comfortable in the Terrestrial Kingdom.
Jeanne Posted September 12, 2014 Posted September 12, 2014 I am not sure that "walking a mile in somebody's moccasins" is all that profitable until we have become comfortable walking in our own. It may give some insight into them but be of no value in solving our own problems. Well none of us are sure of anything. But we learn something new everyday and by putting on those shoes we learn empathy, compassion and still stay true to your own path.
ERayR Posted September 12, 2014 Posted September 12, 2014 I do like ERay's advice about finding our comfort level and where we fit in, but shouldn't we all shoot for the top? (Celestial Kingdom) I would hate to be more comfortable in the Terrestrial Kingdom. I have met a couple of people who have told me they are not comfortable with the idea of exaltation and the responsibilities they saw in it. I think one should strive to be the best we can be. To do any thing less would not be comfortable.
ERayR Posted September 12, 2014 Posted September 12, 2014 Well none of us are sure of anything. But we learn something new everyday and by putting on those shoes we learn empathy, compassion and still stay true to your own path. I can learn all that in my own shoes. My own experiences provide an excellent path to empathy.
VideoGameJunkie Posted September 12, 2014 Author Posted September 12, 2014 ERay, maybe they just don't understand that they'll be able to handle the responsibilities in heaven and will have the knowledge and power to do so. Maybe they'll change their mind on not wanting exaltation.
Calm Posted September 13, 2014 Posted September 13, 2014 There is one thing I will likely never do and that is put on someone else's shoes. The thought grosses me out like getting into someone else's bed without putting clean sheets on. All that sweat and stuff. Hard enough for me to wear my own shoes…bare feet all the way (except that is impossible these days so sheepskin slippers instead)! Even the analogy doesn't work for me, I can't live someone else's life. All I can do is listen and let them tell it how they will.
Calm Posted September 13, 2014 Posted September 13, 2014 ERay, maybe they just don't understand that they'll be able to handle the responsibilities in heaven and will have the knowledge and power to do so. Maybe they'll change their mind on not wanting exaltation.Right. We have an eternity to learn what we need to learn and then once we've learned what we want and how to live that life, we have another eternity or eternity of eternities to enjoy it. We don't need to worry now if someone doesn't want exaltation, that is for the next life and for them to be concerned about. 1
VideoGameJunkie Posted September 13, 2014 Author Posted September 13, 2014 cal, I should take that to heart and not worry about exaltation so much myself right now, and instead focus on loving Heavenly Father, obeying the commandments and loving everyone. The rest will work itself out.
ERayR Posted September 13, 2014 Posted September 13, 2014 ERay, maybe they just don't understand that they'll be able to handle the responsibilities in heaven and will have the knowledge and power to do so. Maybe they'll change their mind on not wanting exaltation. Maybe, but if that is their comfort level then . . .
ERayR Posted September 13, 2014 Posted September 13, 2014 cal, I should take that to heart and not worry about exaltation so much myself right now, and instead focus on loving Heavenly Father, obeying the commandments and loving everyone. The rest will work itself out. Put another way: Just focus on the journey and the end will work out. 1
VideoGameJunkie Posted September 13, 2014 Author Posted September 13, 2014 I love that suggestion ERay, the end will work out. And for comfort level, everyone will be happy with where they wind up. Even those in the Terrestrial Kingdom will be comfortable, but I'm shooting for the Celestial.
Guest Posted September 13, 2014 Posted September 13, 2014 (edited) There's a whole youtube thing called "My name's blah blah and I'm an ex Mormon." They talk about how they left the church. There's some videos too of a former Bishop who left the church for another church. How can someone leave the church if they've felt the spirit? Is Satan really that good at what he does? I've felt the spirit so I would never leave, but all these people have left and many members have gone inactive. I'm happy the church is growing with lots of converts, but we have to also realize that many are also leaving and or going inactive.I am in the process of shutting down...threads on porn, Lucifer being the Holy Ghost. Don't know what is going on, but approaching the time to bid farewell. I just hope God gives me the strength to figure out what happened to posters and my faith. Despite 1200 rep points after my punishment and two years and 20 or more pleadings without a single reply...I have come to believe that forgiveness and the light of Christ, not to mention the scholarly apologist who are gone I just don't know what happened. A gentleman should know when it is time to leave the party anD when he is not welcome. I also cannot abide how GA's are run down here, not to mention the anti-Mormonism that is everywhere. I will miss my 53 friends here. God bless you all!The many mods whomI have contacted lack the spirit of forgiveness and see our faith as some scholarly experiment. We lowly saps who,lack PhD's are not worthy. But even Peterson, Mike Ash, Scott Gordon, Chris Smith are all gone.I. All likely boo the Church is next on my list, it seems no better a large part of the time, cold, unfriendly and aloft. Edited September 13, 2014 by Pa Pa
bcuzbcuz Posted September 13, 2014 Posted September 13, 2014 I am in the process of shutting down...threads on porn, Lucifer being the Holy Ghost. Don't know what is going on, but approaching the time to bid farewell. I just hope God gives me the strength to figure out what happened to posters and my faith. Despite 1200 rep points after my punishment and two years and 20 or more pleadings without a single reply...I have come to believe that forgiveness and the light of Christ, not to mention the scholarly apologist who are gone I just don't know what happened. A gentleman should know when it is time to leave the party anD when he is not welcome. I also cannot abide how GA's are run down here, not to mention the anti-Mormonism that is everywhere. I will miss my 53 friends here. God bless you all!The many mods whomI have contacted lack the spirit of forgiveness and see our faith as some scholarly experiment. We lowly saps who,lack PhD's are not worthy. But even Peterson, Mike Ash, Scott Gordon, Chris Smith are all gone.I. All likely boo the Church is next on my list, it seems no better a large part of the time, cold, unfriendly and aloft.Good-bye
VideoGameJunkie Posted September 13, 2014 Author Posted September 13, 2014 My porn thread is not a reason to leave, but whatever. 1
Tacenda Posted September 13, 2014 Posted September 13, 2014 Hope it's just a vacation. I'd miss your input! 1
why me Posted September 13, 2014 Posted September 13, 2014 I do like ERay's advice about finding our comfort level and where we fit in, but shouldn't we all shoot for the top? (Celestial Kingdom) I would hate to be more comfortable in the Terrestrial Kingdom.I have made my choices with my free will. And it seems that I am heading for the terrestrial kingdom. We go were we feel comfortable. So, I live my life accordingly. Why shoot for the top if one would be unhappy doing so?
why me Posted September 13, 2014 Posted September 13, 2014 I am in the process of shutting down...threads on porn, Lucifer being the Holy Ghost. Don't know what is going on, but approaching the time to bid farewell. I just hope God gives me the strength to figure out what happened to posters and my faith. Despite 1200 rep points after my punishment and two years and 20 or more pleadings without a single reply...I have come to believe that forgiveness and the light of Christ, not to mention the scholarly apologist who are gone I just don't know what happened. A gentleman should know when it is time to leave the party anD when he is not welcome. I also cannot abide how GA's are run down here, not to mention the anti-Mormonism that is everywhere. I will miss my 53 friends here.God bless you all!The many mods whomI have contacted lack the spirit of forgiveness and see our faith as some scholarly experiment. We lowly saps who,lack PhD's are not worthy. But even Peterson, Mike Ash, Scott Gordon, Chris Smith are all gone.I. All likely boo the Church is next on my list, it seems no better a large part of the time, cold, unfriendly and aloft.I know what you mean. Disfelllowshipment from a board can be a long time. I also see at times what you see. And I am also posting less now. And I have been here for 10 years. But I also think that boards have periods of change and such change goes back and forth. I still like the board though. But some of the threads starts do seem mind boggling at times for someone like me who cannot start threads anymore.
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