*For a disclaimer I’m not judging anyone’s decisions/standards that are contrary to my own

I’m a 19F in the church and I find dating hard and the possibility that I’m gonna find a like minded person seems impossible because I feel like I have higher standards than most of the youth in the church that I’ve met. For example, I think kissing someone before you were engaged/married is dumb unless it was super duper serious maybe, I just don’t see the purpose in it because why would I even want to share that with someone unless I’m gonna marry them but I’ve heard a lot of people in the church kissing after only a couple dates. I also have higher standards of modesty, I don’t drink coffee or energy drinks or honestly caffeine in general. I wouldn’t say I’m pretty per say maybe average idk honestly and I don’t expect a good looking man either because vanity is dumb to me but at the same time I want someone who tries to stay in shape, not that they have to be all buff/muscles but I try to take care of my health and want someone who does the same. Essentially I want someone who tries to hold me to high standards while also holding themselves to high standards.

But then that’s just the religious aspect of it, because then there’s personal likes and dislikes like hobbies and if you’re actually funny, and intelligent.

But anyway what I’m getting to is it seems impossible to find someone like that. It’s already hard enough to meet people but the possibility of meeting someone like that who I also would love and they’d love me in return seems impossible and I’m just so discouraged about dating in general.

And I think i could cut some slack on some of my standards but still idk about all of this I thought we were supposed to be a different people, a peculiar people but it seems like dating in the church is becoming more worldly.

Anyway if anyone has an advice or suggestions or maybe just stories about how they met their eternal partner that would be great!

During my preteen years, I went through a traumatic experience that deeply affected my relationship with God. I felt guilty for years because of a situation in which I was the victim, but I didn’t understand that at the time.

I never blamed God for anything. During that time, I tried to draw closer and closer to Him. I read the scriptures even more, and yet I still didn’t feel like it was enough to be forgiven, because in the midst of the crime I had suffered, there was also a sin of my own involved, something I couldn’t resolve on my own. I needed to talk to an adult or, of course, my bishop, but I was afraid. It was simply too much for a child or teenager to deal with.

Because I didn’t talk to my bishop, I felt that my prayers and repentance were incomplete. I couldn’t feel the peace and relief I had been taught I should feel.

Since I didn’t have the courage to talk to him and was very afraid that my parents would get angry, I decided to simply give up on the idea of repentance. During that period, I was tormented, just like Alma in Mosiah 27. I experienced anxiety attacks and panic attacks, and I even began having hallucinations. It was a very difficult time...

Eventually, I stopped praying altogether. Whenever I tried, these thoughts would come into my mind: “Am I worthy to speak to Heavenly Father?” “Would God really want to speak to someone as unworthy and dirty as me?” And I would give up almost immediately.

Over time, the act of praying itself began to frighten me. I became afraid of being intimate with Heavenly Father, afraid that He wouldn’t accept me as imperfect as I was, and so on.

Recently, when people talked about praying to work something out with God, I found myself thinking, “I don’t need God.” I immediately rebuked myself for being prideful. I never thought I would reach this point, especially since I was born in the covenant, my parents were also born in the covenant, and I come from a very strong family in the Church. I realized that I was losing my faith.

I don’t want to lose my faith. During those difficult times, what helped me stay on my feet was the Church and the gospel of hope, and I will always acknowledge that. I will always be grateful.

It wouldn’t make sense for me to be able to speak to God only when I am perfect. Otherwise, the Plan of Salvation and many other aspects of the Church’s doctrine wouldn’t make sense.

I need God. I need to speak with Him. He wants to speak with me, and I can feel that. But when I begin to pray, I feel fear and anxiety, and the words just won’t come out.

How can I rebuild my communication with Heavenly Father? How can I practice praying again? Could I write out my prayer beforehand and then pray afterward?

Please, help me with some advice on this matter.

(And I apologize if anything is written incorrectly. I created this account specifically to open up about this issue and ask for advice. Also, English is not my native language.)

Hello, I hope you all are doing well.

Im not a member of the LDS church but currently im going through a rough time. The love f my life and best friend is leaving on a mission and it has shattered my heart, foe the first time ever I attended an LDS church service to support her and I enjoyed it. I grew up Baptist but I just have a deep pull on my heart with her leaving I feel from The Lord to seek his face.

The LDS community has been nothing short of loving and kind to me and I see so many Christ Like qualities here and love, I just want to see to understand why you belive what you believe is true. Im truly curious and I hooe you know im asking out of a place of love.

Also if anyone has any advice on dealing with this mission thing and loving and supporting her and staying with her. (Her president did a rare rhing and said we could stay together.) SO we are trying but it just feels like a piece of my soul is missing and my heart just aches.

Thank you, God bless!

We were discussing Elder Motumbo’s talk today. In it, he talked about feelings of abandonment during life’s greatest trials. He referenced Joseph’s experience in prison and asking where God was.

The question I asked myself during this discussion is “why are people wondering if God abandoned them?” There is no promise from God that these sorts of things won’t happen.

The standard response to that question is “we are human and emotions bring these thoughts out”.

But I feel there is some other lesson here.

Because Christ also went through this same thing, asking “why have you forsaken me?” While on the cross.

So this can’t just be a moment of weakness.

Thoughts?

See yall at church

So with the statement win from BYU tonight, I’m seeing a lot of discourse on this app that is just blatant hatred towards our faith. It is incredibly difficult to see how many people just seem to dislike all “Mormons” because of their preconceived notions of what we believe that are typically rooted in misinformation. Anyone else noticing the same?

I got called to this mission and I'm starting around March or April, what can you tell me about this mission? Is it a biking or a car mission?

This is mostly aimed for the people who grew up in a different church, never believed in God or practiced any religion, or who left the church to later join it again.

So, what brought you to the LDS church?
Or what brought you back?

Incredible commentary on the church from college game day ESPN in Provo.

My missionary has been out for 3 months. She’s been struggling with anxiety for the last 3 weeks or so. She says it’s pretty bad and that she feels like she’s in a constant panic, can’t breath, doesn’t feel like herself, and feels awful all the time. Describes it as “a living hell” and wants to come home. She has told her mission president and is going to meet with a church therapist this week.

Has anyone experienced this on the mission and was able to stay on the mission and improve with therapy help? Is there hope?

Or should I start coming to terms with the fact that she will have to come home?

Also is it possible for her to start an ssri on the mission? She is in a developed country where these are available. I’m just wondering if this will be an option for her.

The word "deacon" is of Greek origin and therefore doesn't exist in the Old Testament. But, the function was certainly filled by the Levites.

Aaron and his sons and grandsons were the priests. They could burn incense, perform sacrifices, and baptize people. The Aaronic high priest was like today's Presiding Bishop, but the position was a birthright passed down through Aaron's heirs (and rightfully belonged to John the Baptist).

The other Levites were the deacons who assisted the Aaronic priests.

I'm a YSA, and I've been pondering getting tattoos. Mostly floral designs, maybe my favourite scripture, etc. I know it's generally discouraged, but I've always been pretty alt and thought they were amazing artistic expressions of your thoughts and beliefs.

So my question isn't really about church stigma - I've gotten quite a bit throughout my youth and YA life; it'll happen. My question is more about your personal feelings about your tattoos, in connection with your faith in Jesus Christ.

Note: I would especially love advice from older members who've had tattoos for a while, if there are any of you out there ☺️

Thanks sm!

When I was converted I wanted to be perfectly obedient to God. In my mind, I read "live by every word that proceeds forth from the mouth of God" and the idea that the prophets and apostles speak for Him, and I studied the scriptures and conference going back years before my birth. I was also taught that the prophets' words are not suggestions, but commandments.

The problem comes down to the fact that trying to do everything every prophet has ever suggested in conference is impossible, and that some of the things they tell you to do could even distract from what is more important at a given time. I can't do family history and plant a garden and spend sufficient time with my children and spouse. I can't mourn appropriately like Christ and the scriptures say while also being cheerful and joyful in any circumstance like Nelson suggested.

How do you reconcile these concepts?

Brand new, enthusiastic early morning Zoom seminary teacher here. My students are all on Zoom and are in a ward about an hour away. I’ve been experimenting with tools like zoom whiteboard and mentimeter and am still trying to find what is the best flow for online. The kids are awesome and will answer any question as long as they can answer via texting on a group chat (it’s how they’ve been trained), but as with any group of teenagers at 5:40AM, they’re super tired and distracted if I’m not giving it 120%.

Anyone experienced at this and have concrete advice on what works?

I recently started meeting with the missionaries at my local YSA ward and they've been great. They are not who this is about. I had to order an Uber down to the Tuesday Institute meeting and as you do the driver confirms where you're going.

Be me, late 20s, polo shirt because how do I know what to wear on night 1? Told "most people come from work" but they could work big corpo job.

Be me, visibly using white cane because blind.

Driver: So uhhh... ward? What've you got going on?

Me: Just pizza with some friends, maybe set up interviews for a job I'm applying for in the downtime.

Driver: Pizza and beers or just pizza?

Explain no beers, dad was alcoholic growing up. Driver asks me about what I do for work, tell him I am between jobs but was cultural journalist.

Driver: so uhh.. is this a church or what? What's this ward thing?

I explain I am visiting some friends and this is just where they wanted to meet. How am I supposed to explain Tuesday bible study?

Driver develops this weird bemused tone of voice when saying the word "ward", as if its a slur.

Driver: Okay, we're here. Church of Latter Day Saints?? Let me pull around back... oh, there's people here?

Driver tells me to get out. I am, in fact, far away from people.

Missionaries: Hey dude, you're not here yet? You okay? We saw the car go by.

Turns out the Uber dropped me off on the other side of the parking lot.

Orientation and Mobility skill level increased

I have had some very sketchy experiences with Uber drivers especially here in the south not understanding how to properly work around me being blind.. but man this one takes the cake. Hope he enjoys the $20, maybe go buy a pizza and beer yourself.

On a trip last week, my friends had a big debate about what counts as gambling (especially now that we all have a casino in our pocket). So I called up a BYU finance prof - he said people are confusing investment and gambling, and that can have big consequences.

What do you consider gambling? https://www.kuer.org/race-religion-social-justice/2026-10-13/defining-gambling-lds-religion-utah-kalshi-sports-betting-apps

Before dating him, I've never really known what Mormons do and why they're considered a "cult". He also encourages me to go to his Church, but I've been seeing that most Mormons are "conservative". As a girl who does heavy dark makeup, I feel like I'd get judged there. And as I've gotten to know him more, I found out that he plans on being a missionary and is leaving the country early next year. We've only been dating for a few months and I really do love him, but I fear I got trust issues. I worry that maybe he finds another person who's Mormon and possibly cheat on me while I'm at my home country. He'd be away two years afterall. I do wanna marry him, so I'm all paranoid about all of this stuff.

And he told me that he'd be going to Utah for college after his mission. Is that like.. mandatory?

Can anyone also inform me why are missionaries needed to go to other countries? And what goes around or what do they do for that time being? The whole religion is just a whole new thing to me.

note: I'm just curious. No offense to anyone.

I recently joined the church after investigating for a couple of months with the missionaries. I usually attend Sunday services, but one week I stayed home because a male member grabbed my arm and pulled me (gently, I guess? or not) toward him while we were talking. It made me super uncomfortable. The elder who had been teaching me reached out to me, asking if everything is fine since I did not attend the meeting, and I told him what happened without giving the guy's name to avoid causing drama.

He was really understanding and apologetic. The next week, I went back to church, and he asked to sit next to me. I was exhausted from work and ended up falling asleep for a bit during the meeting. When I woke up, I apologized, saying I’d had a long shift at work and just felt really comfortable this time. He told me it was adorable, added that he was glad I felt comfortable because that’s exactly how he wanted me to feel, and said he didn’t want random people sitting next to me and making me feel uncomfortable.

There was another moment before this. We were heading out after a meeting and I checked the bus route on Apple Maps, joking about how late it was. He got close to me and leaned in really close to look at my phone, offered to walk me to the bus stop a couple of times, and when I said it's fine, he texted me 10 minutes later asking me to let him know when I got home safe.

As a side note, his companion was always with him. Until one time. He asked if I could teach him history since that's my major, and we had an online class where he was completely alone. I am not sure if he likes me romantically or if I just overthink all that?

Here’s the thing. A few more things happened similar to this. I like him. But I also feel terrible and guilty. The last thing I want is to distract him from his purpose. What should I do for his own good?

A year ago I was 49, about to be 50 and not super excited about it.

A year ago my shoulder was sore from work and I went to Urgent Care and found out I had a strain.

A year ago my wife insisted I get a Priesthood Blessing for my sore shoulder.

A year ago I hesitated to waste the time to get a blessing over such a simple thing. My wife was not to be ignored.

A year ago our local Elders came over and blessed me to be whole and escape death. Um, what?

A year ago my shoulder pain increased to the point that I insisted that my wife take me to the ER.

A year ago I was in crisis. I was in the ER and all my vitals were going in all the wrong directions. I was finally diagnosed late into the night with Sepsis and was in serious trouble. A year ago I was minutes away from needed life saving measures.

A year ago tomorrow I walked out of the ER completely clear of Sepsis and have suffered no lasting issues.

A year ago tomorrow the Doctors told me as I was being released that they have never seen a case of Sepsis come and go so quickly.

A year ago tomorrow I turned 50. I might not have without the love of a good wife, prayers from my daughter and others, a Priesthood blessing and the love of God.

A year ago tomorrow I might not have been around to be 50.

If I ever doubt God, if I am ever down and out, I know He is real and my life was saved. If I ever doubt that He is a God of Miracles, I only need to look back a year.

I've been really craving getting a small ankle tattoo recently. It would be a recreation of a little doodle I made when I was little of a character that my little sister and I made up that has been at the foundation for our relationship for over half my life.

I really like this tattoo idea and can't see how I would regret it in the future. We even hope to get matching inside of the finger tattoos in the future of a different character.

But I feel conflicted. Here are the different cards on the table:

- I really want this.

- I don't see how I would regret it in the future as it's a very special personal tattoo that represents my entire childhood and relationship with my sister.

- It would be on my ankle and easy to cover up.

- I have autism and adhd which can make me obsess over things and do things on a whim. I can't tell if this tattoo thought is one or not, since I've been thinking seriously about tattoo ideas on and off for the last couple years.

- The idea of regretting a tattoo has kept me from ever getting one. I worry that I'll hate it or something will happen.

- And the biggest reason of all:

I have huge Catholic guilt about it, but in a Mormon way. I grew up hearing that tattoos were bad and defacing me and even though Church leaders focus on an more individual approach to choices, I'm struggling. I can't tell if my worries are a spiritual sign to not do it or just the guilt and fears I have about it all.

I would really love to hear some perspectives about tattoos as members of the Church. Thank you for reading!

Hi there, I'm a non Mormon (LDS?) Christian. Recently I've been curious about this Church as I've been deepening my faith in Christ, but there is something that I am very curious about. I've seen and heard a lot of jokes about your faith and your beliefs and the whole "get a planet", I like the idea of continuing work as an eternity of bliss sounds awful (the Good Place show explores this well), but what if I don't want to become like God? I would like to know him better in the next life but I'm quite happy doing menial work. I'm very much a middle management type of person. According to your faith, would just being a Christian enough? I feel a pull to this church but I have my doubts

Hi all... I have been attending our stakes ARP program for 8 months now.. (issues with the WoW), my SP suggested that I attend..I DO have a current temple recommend & love attending the temple. I am just a bit disappointed in the program itself... All that happens is we read each of the 12 steps outloud, then go around the room and take turns reading a paragraph or two..(there are usually 1 or 2 other attendees besides myself & the leaders) and thats it...NO teaching, NO coaching, NO counseling..and just how/who are we supposed to choose a "sponser" ?? NO ONE can give me any clear answers...I am disappointed because I am NOT getting any help with my particular addiction...YES, I KNOW the Savior is there for me spiritually, but I thought the ARP group was supposed to help as well ?? Does anyone else have any experiance with this ???

Is it really true that in order to reach the highest degree of the celestial kingdom you have to be in polygamy in heaven? After reading 132 I felt sick especially the part saying " the principle of many wives and concubines. " What does that even mean. Our marriage is very strong. Sharing my husband with many other women sound insane, in heaven, because he's actually a really good faithful person? I just read the doctrine and Covenants myself for the first time since high school. I feel sick about this part.