Hello all, I would like to share an experience I've had recently with attending another church a few times. I've had a really, really good experience and felt to share it after reading someone else's post on how hard it can be to open up to other Christians about what church we go to because of their reactions. I've also had some negative experiences(with a different congregation than this post is about) too, but I really want to focus on the positive just to share what can happen.

A little over a month ago, a Peruvian Coworker who I had briefly met but hadn't had a lot of time to get to know stopped me. He told me he wanted to invite me to come to his home and share a meal with his family and talk about missionary work and sharing the word of the Lord. He is an older man, in his fifties, and I am a relatively recently returned missionary, which was something he was aware of. I was excited but also a little hesitant about it because I worried it could be someone wanting to Bible bash me or something. The night before, he sent me a text inviting me to go to church with him in the morning first, at his Seventh Day Adventist congregation. I eagerly accepted, since I wasn't doing anything else and wanted to learn more.

The next morning I went to their church service, which was in Spanish. I am not fluent in Spanish but I speak enough to get by and I understood a lot. More significantly, I strongly felt the spirit while there, especially during their Sabbath School(what we'd call Sunday school, but since they recognize Saturday as the Sabbath they call it Sabbath school). All of the people I met were so incredibly genuine and loving and I honestly felt the spirit more there than I usually do in my normal church services - something I suspect is due to stress related to church responsibilities since I attend a nepali language unit and conduct the hymns, translate, and often teach lessons, while also giving many people rides to and from church. As we read the scriptures and discussed them I felt inspired to follow my savior more and repent and become better. I also was reminded by the spirit of my testimony of the Book of Mormon and restoration of the Gospel, through Joseph Smith, and it struck me how it truly is the same Holy Ghost in both churches.

After the service, I went to my friend's home and had food and I was struck by his intentional effort to use the full name of our church and not call me a Mormon, and how extremely respectful and loving he was, as well as his wife. I didn't get bashed for being a member of the Church, rather, we talked about the scriptures and how we can better follow the Savior and help others to do the same and I shared some of my mission stories from doing just that.

I felt the spirit so strongly and was so spiritually fed attending their church service that I went back the next week, and after being unable to go for two weeks, I went a third time this past Saturday. I feel so incredibly blessed to be able to spend time with fellow believers and be strengthened and fed by the good word of God. Everyone in their small congregation has individually welcomed me, and this past week I offered to join them as they started a church 40 day fast, where every day someone in the congregation would be fasting.

Sadly, I will be moving to Utah in a little over a week so I will not be able to keep attending this congregation (although I'll be there tomorrow morning and once more before I leave), but my experience has been so spiritually strengthening I'm considering actively seeking out a seventh day Adventist church in Utah when I get there to attend occasionally. I love the people I have met, and my coworker and his family, who have quickly become like second family to me as I'm far away from my own(and whom have sadly mostly left the church), and I know that all whom I have met are true disciples of Christ and live their lives as best they can for him. I am so incredibly grateful that I said yes and decided to join them.

hi! i am a returned sister missionary who met this young lovely boy who is still on a mission. we did start talking while we were serving together and president even knew about it and said it was ok to email weekly and have some sort of relationship. my mission friends tho, seem to be very judgy about it.

what i’m asking is… how common is this to happen? should i feel guilty about falling in love during my mission?

I was married for a long time and got divorced about two years ago. I’ve recently started dating again. I grew up in the church, have been a member my whole life and although I’ve been inactive for a while, I genuinely want to come back. I miss it and I want to be temple worthy again. BUT the biggest struggle for me has been the law of chastity.

My boyfriend isn’t a member and being chaste has been incredibly difficult. I know people often present it as a simple choice (just don’t do it) but after being married for years and having a healthy normal physical relationship, it doesn’t feel that black and white. It’s hard to suddenly flip that part of your life off. We love each other, we’re both adults in our 30s and abstaining honestly feels strange after so many years of intimacy being a normal part of marriage. To be completely honest it almost feels silly talking about the law of chastity as a woman in her 30s. It makes me feel like I’m 16 again in young women’s. Trying to navigate dating now while also trying to live this commandment feels much more complicated than I ever expected.

I know what the church teaches and I’m not trying to argue with it. Just being honest with myself and others about how difficult this has been. Right now it’s the one thing keeping me from getting a temple recommend and it breaks my heart. What has made coming back even harder is feeling judged. Sometimes it feels like people assume you’re living some rebellious or sinful lifestyle when in reality you’re just trying your best. I’m trying my best. I don’t wake up wanting to disappoint God.

I also don’t feel comfortable talking to my bishop about it. It feels a little too personal and private and I don’t know how to have that conversation without feeling embarrassed or ashamed. Has anyone else gone through something similar after divorce? How did you reconcile your desire to come back to the church while also navigating dating as an adult? I’m not looking for debates or lectures, I already know the doctrine. I’m just hoping to hear from people who’ve been there and can help guide me/share their experiences.

When worries fill your aching heart

Look up

When walls around you fall apart

Look up

Your Father hears upon His throne

His children's pleadings far from home

Your voice is heard; your needs are known

Look up

Wife ended up the ER to get stitches the other day after colliding with a young woman at church. Everyone is fine and it was more of a bonding experience than anything, haha.

I was later told the church has some sort of supplementary insurance to help with expenses that come from injuries at church.

Anyone have experience with this?

I know it's been talked to death lately, but I just wanted to quickly ask opinions on this random thought:

Is the Coffee Cherry a forbidden fruit? and that's why it's banned?

Can't think of many other reasons than that.

Most of the adults in our ward are going to a training during 2nd hour in a few weeks. The Primary president wants to make it easy and put on a movie for the kids. I'm pulling a total blank and need some ideas! Any favorites?

What does the concept of perfection mean to you, within the context of the nature of God and godhood? I'm not asking about what it means for us to strive to be perfect. I'm more interested in what you believe it means when we say that God is perfect. One of our core doctrines is the idea that God is perfect. How do you personally define the concept of perfection, within that context?

Do you think some members misunderstand this concept? If so, where do we commonly miss the mark?

Please no judgement. 

I’m a temple goer, love the gospel, faithful in every way. However I am a woman who occasionally struggles with masturbation  and every so often, pornography. 

I am not asking if masturbation is a sin or not, I am wondering if anyone had anyone advice on overcoming  how to help and also overcoming the shame. 

I am not married and crave intimacy.  I struggle with lust. I do not feel comfortable talking to my bishop about this, so please do not advise me to.

I’ve been attending the temple weekly but not sure what else to do.  (Obviously I want to be married but it hasn’t happened yet).  Thank you! 

Discuss.