Search found 214 matches

by West
30 Dec 2018, 00:43
Forum: Introductions
Topic: Unlearning What I Have Learned
Replies: 7
Views: 4484

Re: Unlearning What I Have Learned

Late to the party, but still, welcome to the forums! I don't think we ever truly finish forming our beliefs in life. Like others have said, it's good to keep it evolving as more information and life experiences gather around you. A lot of the "bad examples" of the culture you've seen are o...
by West
30 Dec 2018, 00:39
Forum: Introductions
Topic: Been holding cards very close to vest.
Replies: 7
Views: 4030

Re: Been holding cards very close to vest.

Hey there! I'm late to the party, but welcome to the forum! You're certainly not alone in feeling disenfranchised about the church; just the other day, one of my still-active friends who actually works at the Church Office Building went on a rant about all the issues with the current church culture ...
by West
24 Jun 2017, 22:08
Forum: Introductions
Topic: Introduction Part Two
Replies: 6
Views: 3421

Re: Introduction Part Two

Thanks, everyone! I'll certainly drop in here and there now that I'm settled in a place to live and with a nice job. :) To answer the mission questions, I had a really weird mission. Honestly, the main reason I completed my entire mission was because I was very much needed there; in most missions, t...
by West
21 Jun 2017, 20:07
Forum: Introductions
Topic: Introduction Part Two
Replies: 6
Views: 3421

Introduction Part Two

Hey, everyone! It's been a while since I've been here, so thought I'd post a new introduction thread. There's a lot to say, but I'll try to keep it brief. I remember coming here several years ago, not too long before I put in my papers for my mission, and everything was a complete mess in my mind an...
by West
11 May 2016, 15:30
Forum: Spiritual Stuff
Topic: What is the Spirit?
Replies: 14
Views: 4858

Re: What is the Spirit?

I don't find a need to go back and re-write my prior experiences. What was real to me at the time, is a part of me and my life. I sometimes get stuck in that stage where I reassess and try to explain away and discount past experiences. It never occurred to me that it's okay to accept them as real t...
by West
11 May 2016, 07:20
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: The church is perfect, the people aren't
Replies: 21
Views: 4913

Re: The church is perfect, the people aren't

I have recently come to define perfection as it is seen in nature -- I can look at a mess of clouds with a dozen different colors from the sun setting over an uneven horizon of mountains on a warm winter day and think how perfect it is. Perfect can be a beautiful mess of things so long as it gives y...
by West
11 May 2016, 07:05
Forum: Spiritual Stuff
Topic: What is the Spirit?
Replies: 14
Views: 4858

Re: What is the Spirit?

Interesting thought. I think it has something to do with confidence. ... If we feel more confident with where we currently stand in the eyes of god then we may feel more confident that god is speaking to us. For some reason, that really clicked something in my thought process. I don't know how to a...
by West
10 May 2016, 17:00
Forum: Spiritual Stuff
Topic: What is the Spirit?
Replies: 14
Views: 4858

Re: What is the Spirit?

I'm glad I can come here and get such a great variety of viewpoints. Really, can't tell you all enough how grateful I am for this forum. Most of the spiritual experiences I've had and have heard about seem easily explained by the complexity and wonder of the human brain. I've also felt the same sens...
by West
09 May 2016, 11:21
Forum: Spiritual Stuff
Topic: What is the Spirit?
Replies: 14
Views: 4858

What is the Spirit?

I realize there are some existing threads with much the same idea, so sorry if this is too similar. Also sorry if I ramble. It's fall down here, and everyone has a cold or flu, including me. There's a big emphasis on the correlation of obedience and being guided by the Spirit. And so I wonder often ...
by West
30 Dec 2015, 13:34
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Crumbling testimony
Replies: 31
Views: 5686

Re: Crumbling testimony

Also I should note that mission rules are radically different depending on the mission and the mission president. Like night and day sometimes. Really just the luck of the draw.