How I think God might be working on me possibly.

[Tacenda]

I don't know, this may belong in Social, mods are welcome to move it, if so.

In the past several months, I was thrown back into being a visting teacher because my niece on my husband's side lived in our ward and was having difficulty with her current partner and asked the RS president if I could be her partner. Well, with my FC I discontinued VT'ng previously and having them come to me also (much more to it than that but will leave it at that) because normally I've always loved the program. 

Turns out my niece ended up moving away to Virginia recently because of her husband's employment. That left an open spot for another person. I seriously thought about discontinuing visiting teaching before that could happen, but love dearly the sister we were going to. Funny thing is I found a slip of paper outside my door down in the dirt and about threw it away, turns out it was my list with the new partner and who we would visit. 

For nearly the whole month I put off calling my partner, I didn't know her but knew of her because her son recently took his life after having severe depression and anxiety. And I was asked to help with the food after the funeral. 

She ended up calling me, after struggling to get a number since I dropped our land line. She got my husband's cell. And called him, he gave her my cell. We connected and I arranged our visits. I really wondered if I could get back into it again, and how was I suppose to give the lesson, and how would I tell her of my struggles. 

Our first lady went well, we are nearly all the same age and going through the same physical problems with thyroid issues so we all talked about that, and then so many other things that so resonated with me. I felt so comfortable around both of them.

But when it came to visiting my good friend, all heck broke loose in a good way, my new partner touched on her son's death, and how the church has saved her, or I should say, how knowing that her son is in God's hands saved her. And the tender mercies He gave her right before, saved her. Well this led to God in our lives, and I broke down and mentioned my faith crisis and how it led to me not knowing if He and Jesus existed. Well these two ladies were a godsend, I swear God made this happen, because they both gave me so much hope in how to look at having a crisis of faith. 

Guess what? My partner said she is reading a good book called "A Reason for Faith" https://deseretbook.com/p/rsc-reason-for-faith-navigating-lds-doctrine-and-church-history?variant_id=134903-ebook and she wanted me to read it. After visiting teaching she brings it over. And I realize it has all the topics from the church essays. I can't believe she knows about them, it's rare, believe me. 

Sorry this is so long, but she is a definitely a godsend. I didn't really want this to happen, because you know...the church can't be true after all my research.

But how did this lady end up in my life? I just don't know. But I felt a spirit amongst us, and it may be something else. But it's still with me as I type. My friend knew a little about my crisis, but not the extent. And she said some wise things to me also. Wish my memory was better, I should have had her write it down because it was so profound. 

Thanks for listening, just thought I'd share. I still don't know if the church is true, just that some people in it, are certainly true and saintly.

Edited September 29, 2016 by Tacenda

[Jeanne]

So happy for you Tacenda.  When you can find a circle of friends it is a wonderful thing..and I think how quickly you were able to speak about some of your concerns.  I hope this brings you many good things.  Should God have had a hand in this...it did good in giving you a friend that can talk about those essays and relate.  Your journey here is sometimes full of highs and lows..hoping you find the stars in the heavens!

Jeanne

 

Edited to add:  Maybe God put you in their path to help them.

Edited September 29, 2016 by Jeanne

[Tacenda]

8 minutes ago, Jeanne said:

So happy for you Tacenda.  When you can find a circle of friends it is a wonderful thing..and I think how quickly you were able to speak about some of your concerns.  I hope this brings you many good things.  Should God have had a hand in this...it did good in giving you a friend that can talk about those essays and relate.  Your journey here is sometimes full of highs and lows..hoping you find the stars in the heavens!

Jeanne

 

Edited to add:  Maybe God put you in their path to help them.

You're a dear friend Jeanne!! It was surreal, and I think the only way it could have happened (my opening up) is if they'd been the kind of people they are. 

[SteveO]

11 minutes ago, Tacenda said:

You're a dear friend Jeanne!! It was surreal, and I think the only way it could have happened (my opening up) is if they'd been the kind of people they are. 

I think it's also because you did what you were supposed to do, and were in the place you were supposed to be--even when you really didn't want to at first.

Sometimes doing our duty despite our reservations brings incredible blessings.  For me, it's a strong display of faith that doesn't go unanswered.

Very neat story

 

Edited September 29, 2016 by SteveO

[BlueDreams]

I'm a big believer in God sending people in our lives. Even if we're stubborn and often particularly if other avenues for God to talk to us/move us are currently closed. I've seen this in my own life and right now particularly with my less active roommate, who's struggling with regaining her faith and relational problems. The miracles I've watched with her have been sometimes a little mind-boggling. But one of the most obvious ones is the people that are ending up in her life. She's ended up with not 1, but 4 therapists in her life. Including a bishop who hooked her up with another one for real therapy. Her sex therapist roommate who helped her non-judgmentally, sort out her relational concerns. Her soon-to-be therapist friend/VT that she could just talk to. Her visiting teachers last year were phenomenal. I've never seen VT's like that in a YSA. And her one regular friend (now HT) is helping her in more practical things like branching into her field of interest. She also has had several RM's as roommates to encourage her to attend church, even when it was awkward to ask. 

God works, you just have to give Him time. 

With luv,

BD

[rongo]

I'm a big believer in what I call "the witness of results." We don't feel led, pulled, etc. at all, but the results show in hindsight that we were. Sometimes we are able to feel it as it happens, but usually not (in my experience, anyway). 

[Calm]

7 hours ago, Tacenda said:

Thanks for listening, just thought I'd share. I still don't know if the church is true, just that some people in it, are certainly true and saintly.

I am glad you have someone to talk to face to face.  My RS pres is that for me.  She even assigned herself as my teacher so I could do it when I could and skip it if it was a hard month without feeling guilty.  Anyway, it is so nice to get a hug at the end of a good talk, something I miss doing with my friends here.  I hope it works out as well for you as it has for me.

Edited September 30, 2016 by Calm

[Storm Rider]

Tacenda, what a wonderful story and I am very grateful for you and for the way the Spirit is working in your life.  

This life can be so very difficult and at times church can appear to just complicate it all the more.  What is real for me is that God lives and he works with any tool that will serve to further his objectives for each of us.  He is a personal God and is always approached individually.  God may use the Church, the scriptures, our neighbors, our parents, our siblings, our friends, or a stranger to touch us, but God is striving to bring us to him.  

 

 

[CMZ]

We're in this mortal coil where things can be dark and confusing, but work with the light you have and it'll lead you to greater light. And you keep getting a little more here and there as you go throughout life. "That light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day."

[ERayR]

20 hours ago, Tacenda said:

I don't know, this may belong in Social, mods are welcome to move it, if so.

In the past several months, I was thrown back into being a visting teacher because my niece on my husband's side lived in our ward and was having difficulty with her current partner and asked the RS president if I could be her partner. Well, with my FC I discontinued VT'ng previously and having them come to me also (much more to it than that but will leave it at that) because normally I've always loved the program. 

Turns out my niece ended up moving away to Virginia recently because of her husband's employment. That left an open spot for another person. I seriously thought about discontinuing visiting teaching before that could happen, but love dearly the sister we were going to. Funny thing is I found a slip of paper outside my door down in the dirt and about threw it away, turns out it was my list with the new partner and who we would visit. 

For nearly the whole month I put off calling my partner, I didn't know her but knew of her because her son recently took his life after having severe depression and anxiety. And I was asked to help with the food after the funeral. 

She ended up calling me, after struggling to get a number since I dropped our land line. She got my husband's cell. And called him, he gave her my cell. We connected and I arranged our visits. I really wondered if I could get back into it again, and how was I suppose to give the lesson, and how would I tell her of my struggles. 

Our first lady went well, we are nearly all the same age and going through the same physical problems with thyroid issues so we all talked about that, and then so many other things that so resonated with me. I felt so comfortable around both of them.

But when it came to visiting my good friend, all heck broke loose in a good way, my new partner touched on her son's death, and how the church has saved her, or I should say, how knowing that her son is in God's hands saved her. And the tender mercies He gave her right before, saved her. Well this led to God in our lives, and I broke down and mentioned my faith crisis and how it led to me not knowing if He and Jesus existed. Well these two ladies were a godsend, I swear God made this happen, because they both gave me so much hope in how to look at having a crisis of faith. 

Guess what? My partner said she is reading a good book called "A Reason for Faith" https://deseretbook.com/p/rsc-reason-for-faith-navigating-lds-doctrine-and-church-history?variant_id=134903-ebook and she wanted me to read it. After visiting teaching she brings it over. And I realize it has all the topics from the church essays. I can't believe she knows about them, it's rare, believe me. 

Sorry this is so long, but she is a definitely a godsend. I didn't really want this to happen, because you know...the church can't be true after all my research.

But how did this lady end up in my life? I just don't know. But I felt a spirit amongst us, and it may be something else. But it's still with me as I type. My friend knew a little about my crisis, but not the extent. And she said some wise things to me also. Wish my memory was better, I should have had her write it down because it was so profound. 

Thanks for listening, just thought I'd share. I still don't know if the church is true, just that some people in it, are certainly true and saintly.

Tacenda it is my sincerest wish that you can let the spirit and these good women lead you back to a place of comfort.  The Gospel is true.

[boblloyd91]

20 hours ago, Tacenda said:

I don't know, this may belong in Social, mods are welcome to move it, if so.

In the past several months, I was thrown back into being a visting teacher because my niece on my husband's side lived in our ward and was having difficulty with her current partner and asked the RS president if I could be her partner. Well, with my FC I discontinued VT'ng previously and having them come to me also (much more to it than that but will leave it at that) because normally I've always loved the program. 

Turns out my niece ended up moving away to Virginia recently because of her husband's employment. That left an open spot for another person. I seriously thought about discontinuing visiting teaching before that could happen, but love dearly the sister we were going to. Funny thing is I found a slip of paper outside my door down in the dirt and about threw it away, turns out it was my list with the new partner and who we would visit. 

For nearly the whole month I put off calling my partner, I didn't know her but knew of her because her son recently took his life after having severe depression and anxiety. And I was asked to help with the food after the funeral. 

She ended up calling me, after struggling to get a number since I dropped our land line. She got my husband's cell. And called him, he gave her my cell. We connected and I arranged our visits. I really wondered if I could get back into it again, and how was I suppose to give the lesson, and how would I tell her of my struggles. 

Our first lady went well, we are nearly all the same age and going through the same physical problems with thyroid issues so we all talked about that, and then so many other things that so resonated with me. I felt so comfortable around both of them.

But when it came to visiting my good friend, all heck broke loose in a good way, my new partner touched on her son's death, and how the church has saved her, or I should say, how knowing that her son is in God's hands saved her. And the tender mercies He gave her right before, saved her. Well this led to God in our lives, and I broke down and mentioned my faith crisis and how it led to me not knowing if He and Jesus existed. Well these two ladies were a godsend, I swear God made this happen, because they both gave me so much hope in how to look at having a crisis of faith. 

Guess what? My partner said she is reading a good book called "A Reason for Faith" https://deseretbook.com/p/rsc-reason-for-faith-navigating-lds-doctrine-and-church-history?variant_id=134903-ebook and she wanted me to read it. After visiting teaching she brings it over. And I realize it has all the topics from the church essays. I can't believe she knows about them, it's rare, believe me. 

Sorry this is so long, but she is a definitely a godsend. I didn't really want this to happen, because you know...the church can't be true after all my research.

But how did this lady end up in my life? I just don't know. But I felt a spirit amongst us, and it may be something else. But it's still with me as I type. My friend knew a little about my crisis, but not the extent. And she said some wise things to me also. Wish my memory was better, I should have had her write it down because it was so profound. 

Thanks for listening, just thought I'd share. I still don't know if the church is true, just that some people in it, are certainly true and saintly.

Thanks for sharing this, I've said it before and I'll say ti again, I appreciate what a sincere person you are!

[mfbukowski]

On 9/29/2016 at 2:44 PM, Tacenda said:

 

Sorry this is so long, but she is a definitely a godsend. I didn't really want this to happen, because you know...the church can't be true after all my research.

But how did this lady end up in my life? I just don't know. But I felt a spirit amongst us, and it may be something else. But it's still with me as I type. My friend knew a little about my crisis, but not the extent. And she said some wise things to me also. Wish my memory was better, I should have had her write it down because it was so profound. 

Thanks for listening, just thought I'd share. I still don't know if the church is true, just that some people in it, are certainly true and saintly.

Think about it

Why would the church publicize those essays if they thought they would contribute to members leaving?  Those who wrote the articles and those who cleared them (the 15) are obviously aware of the need for the essays and are responsible for what they say- they WANT the membership to know.  Why would they want the membership to know?  BECAUSE THEY THEMSELVES KNOW AND THAT KNOWLEDGE HAS NOT CHANGED THEIR PERSONAL TESTIMONIES.

Suppose they knew all along they were lying to the membership and still are.  Why then would they publish the essays??

It is up to each of us to answer these questions for ourselves.   Is the church acting as if it wants to lie by publishing the essays?   Obviously not!