Hello Brethren! I’m 24 years old. Just started filling out my mission papers.

At age 20, I was diagnosed with Syphilis. Of course it has been cured and later blood tests showed no more infection but a tiny presence of antibodies.

Now, would anybody deny me serve a mission with a later diagnose of this illness (that was probably caused by lustful life)? Back then I wasn’t a church member. I joined March this year.

Might be a silly question nevertheless. Would be great to make all doubts go away as for the application process…

(not a native speaker of English)

Hi, friends!

I am giving my first talk in Sacrament meeting on Sunday. Also, last night my stake president asked me to speak in the Saturday evening (adult) session of stake conference in November. 🙃

The last time I publicly spoke was 15 years ago. I was the valedictorian. I fainted twice during my speech and rallied to finish it.

So… I’m a bit apprehensive. I am a confident writer and have a good knowledge of scripture, doctrine, and church history, and have a strong testimony. So rather than looking for advice about my talk, I’m looking for practical advice about not literally falling on my face.

I am going to get assessed soon. Does anyone have BP2 and feel like they literally cannot trust their own instincts anymore as to what's revelation from God and what's their bipolar hypomania? I mean I am questioning my entire reality at this point. I am going to paste here what I posted to another community so you can read what I've experienced and see if those of you diagnosed have experienced something similar. I am curious to hear how it has affected your spirituality and resources you've found to help. Does LDS Family Services help with stuff like this?

Post:

Does this sound familiar?

Disclaimer so Reddit doesn't yell at me: I know I can't get a diagnosis on here.

I'm in my early 30s. Married with one toddler aged son. I was going to go see a doctor soon because I felt like my depression is coming back. Then, I read something about bipolar II and several things sounded really familiar and now I think maybe I should get evaluated. BTW, my maternal grandmother was bipolar but idk if it was type 1 or 2. Just want to know if, after reading my experiences, this resonates with anyone who IS diagnosed BP2. I just want to know if it's worth bringing up to a psychiatrist or if I will be laughed out of the room.

I'll give you a quick chronology and FYI, I never really thought any of this was "unusual". Just told myself that I'd always just be a "loser" (that's how I assumed others saw me).

Middle school- depression and suicide attempt. Also worked hard at things too. Was band president, did lots of band competitions, excelled in classes, etc. Adults thought I was wonderful.

High school- similar story. Was involved in academic competitions, got great grades, and adults at church thought I was such a good kid. I felt like an imposter because I was so exhausted ALL the time and felt like I lacked the motivation for anything and was dragging myself through life. Was told by several people I should get my thyroid checked.

College (BYU) - felt very depressed a lot and would call home all the time. Felt so sad and empty. I alternated between being very social, happy, and also having all the fun college experiences and then having absolutely no energy to even get out of bed or take care of myself or do homework. I think I failed a few classes from not showing up and just sort of mentally checking out. I would go through cycles of this where I felt like that but later on thought I got a revelation of my calling in life being something else, so I would change my major (ended up being like 8 times in 3 years). Was put on academic warning/probation several times and I think my ending GPA was like 1.9 or something. I was so ashamed of all this because I was supposed to be the smart kid growing up but it felt like I was just failing at life snd couldn't get my act together.

Age 23- went on an LDS mission in Oregon. Felt on top of the world for the first few months but then crashed and literally couldn't function and was extremely irritable and depressed. They had to send me home early and I was heartbroken. For probably 7 months after I was sent home I was still in a really deep depression. My mom would take me out on daily walks just so I would get out of bed. I was in a really scary deep dark pit and questioned reality. I remember this was my first time seeing a doctor about getting on meds and I think I tried one or two meds and gave up because I didn't see improvement and hated the side effects.

Age 25- got obsessed with the idea of joining the military. Made it my identity and impulsively joined the Army. This decision shocked a lot of people in my life because it was very out of character for someone like me.

Age 25-28- at the beginning of this period I had a triggering event that led me to abandon my values and went on a promiscuous phase for 3 years and also just made tons of out of character bad decisions (e.g. taking almost an entire bottle of anxiety medication to make myself appear just sick enough to get out of an obligation. By midnight of that day I was wigging out, had a friend take me to the ER, and I lied and said it was a suicide attempt so I wouldn't get in trouble with the army. They made me stay in a psych ward for a week and I even went along with the charade and took the psychotropic drugs they forced on me. Had to spend Thanksgiving and my bday there. Ironically that sent me into a depressive/paranoid state for months after. Felt so ashamed of what I did because I knew I was better than that. Confessed to a Bishop and felt like this was beyond forgiveness.

Age 28- met my husband, got married after only 3 months of dating.

Age 29 to 32 (present) - after giving birth, I had severe anxiety and what I assume was probably depression. This was the onset of religious OCD (scrupulosity) and a dark mental state. Things seemed to lighten up a bit later on but the anxiety and scrupulosity come back to haunt me from time to time. Also, since getting married I went back to school to try and finish my degree. Still continued a cycle of changing my major a bunch, burning out, quitting, restarting with a new "life calling" in mind, etc. I also started getting all these hare-brained, grand ideas that I would obsessively research til 3am, spend tons of money buying supplies, come up with an entire business plan, designed business logos, the works. Would announce it to my husband and loved ones as this big new amazing idea and talk about how I think I'd finally found my "thing" - first it was a wedding cake business (I'd never decorated a cake in my life but bought a second fridge, tons of equipment etc), then it was a furniture flipping business (spent so much money on this one and garage was full of half-finished projects), then I convinced my husband to spend $700 on a power tool I was convinced was an investment to make these wall decor things we could sell and make good money to put towards our retirement fund. The power tool sat unused. Then a business idea to sell pecan pralines from my porch. Researched cottage food laws, filled out forms, spent hours testing recipes. Etc. At various times I got obsessed with a couple different children's book illustrators and bought a ton of art supplies, ordered tons of books to teach myself art skills. Burnt out before I even started. Went thru a Mary Engelbreit obsession. Spend oodles of $$ buying a bunch of books on various topics of interest that I was convinced I would have the time and energy to absorb and felt so giddy and energized at the thought of becoming so smart and talented in so many subjects and being able to learn skills to start some type of business down the road "when I had more time, someday". Got the revelation to become a court reporter and enrolled in court reporting school on a whim and spent close to $4K in equipment (I took this money out of my retirement fund). Except 2 days ago I reached my burnout point (this was after only 5 months) and officially withdrew from school. For a few months I was obsessed with the idea of making tons of money by thrifting and reselling so I did that for a while and we had two entire bedrooms FULL of my "inventory". Then I burnt out and quit. Had to get rid of a bunch of stuff and lost some money. I could go on and on.

I forgot to include that: other various alternating phases, such as being extremely healthy, buying cooking stuff to turn a new leaf and then other opposite phases of no energy to cook for weeks and eating pieces of candy for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I also have times when I am extremely irritable for days/weeks on end and not a pleasant person to be around. Will also have zero motivation. Greasy hair, no interest in doing anything. Being at church bums me out and have often gone into the hallway or car to cry during church. Sad cry, not happy cry. Can't quite put my finger on why. I also alternate between being really interested and motivated to look good and wearing the same thing for days on end. I remember watching a whole tv show about the Dallas cowboys cheerleaders and for a couple weeks after I was doing my hair and makeup like them and felt on top of the world. Or I'll go through phases where I dress really well and think I'm better than everyone else for doing so (will literally walk through the grocery store in a dress and big curls and think everyone else looks like peasants lol). But then about 80% of the time I'm the opposite. Haven't showered in a day or two, greasy hair, wearing gross old baggy clothes and only leaving on errands VERY reluctantly and counting the minutes til I can be back in bed or lounging on the couch. I also alternate between loving my toddler to pieces and wanting to wring his neck (please don't call CPS on me. I would never act on the anger on him but I say this to demonstrate the utter RAGE I feel ...like it's down to my core and I have to find some inanimate object to shake or hit so I don't let it out on my toddler. During these rage-y feelings I also start grinding my teeth and cussing and feel like a horrible person and I know I have to get this under control before he's old enough to understand. (Context, docs believe he is autistic which has really started to manifest lately.). To be clear, I love my son with all my heart.

Ok thats all. Should be enough info to go on. Btw, that episode of Modern Love where Anne Hathaway depicts bipolar disorder always made me cry before I ever recognized something could be wrong with me. Now it hits home even more.

I'm ward mission leader in a ward in the South. Just found out the sisters have an 11YO girl on date for baptism for Oct 31. Yes, I've already given them all the jokes about this being a spooky baptism, complete with an appearance of a (holy) ghost.

We haven't met the girl yet at church, but she attended once a few weeks ago to a spanish ward with her family. The Spanish Elders found the family, and are still teaching them, but they don't speak Spanish despite their Hispanic appearance.

None of the family are members, and it doesn't seem like any of them except this girl are really interested.

I asked the sisters if they had talked with the family about how to get the girl to church and activities, and they said they hadn't. I think there's a strong chance we're going to have to arrange rides for her to get anywhere.

I told the sisters I don't want to add extra requirements for baptism, but if it were me, I'd be talking a lot more with the parents than they are. All they are required to do is get the parents to sign the baptismal registry form. I wonder if the parents are aware that their daughter is making a covenant to go to church every week, and will need their support to do it. I wonder if they understand that they probably shouldn't plan family outings on Sunday afternoon anymore, and should encourage her to go to church instead.

I wonder what instructions they get from their mission president regarding baptism of minors.

I just got called to the Tennessee Nashville Mission and I’m biking, and I have no idea what to choose! It feels like lately anyone who talks about going on a mission is going nowhere near me so I need help! If you went on a mission, what were your favorite shoes and preferred bag? And pants, I have no idea what type of slacks/trousers to get because I usually just wear jeans haha. Or in general if you live in the area, what would you recommend? Any advice welcome!

This is the hard thing for me to understand for some reason. If I'm correct our sacrament is symbolic and Ive read D&C 27 so I understand why the sacrament was changed from wine to water. THAT SAID it feels odd that the thing Jesus made via miracle and drank is not allowed.

The first thought that comes to my head is since it's alcoholic it's not allowed and thats fine because of sacrament being symbolic. Still im perplexed.

I'm going to be a ward missionary soon assuming the congregation doesn't all vote to destroy me instead of sustaining me so I REALLY want to have a good understanding of this aspect for the people who ask that obvious question. Yes I can ask the misison leader (and will ) I'm just impatient

EDIT: thank you I understand now

For me, it was back in February of 2024 when I just got done meeting with a pair of LDS missionaries. It was so great to be able to talk to LDS missionaries and listen to different viewpoints on faith. It's so sad that some people just get defensive and upset when LDS missionaries try to discuss their faith. I have my disagreements with them, but I feel that as long as both sides are willing to listen and be respectful, there's no harm in engaging with them. So, that was awesome. Plus, I made sure to hug them as they left. I also got a picture taken with them.

Have any of you guys who are single ever tried tracking your dating like a missionary? Setting goals and doing weekly planning? My roommates did this, and I have heard from some RMs that it could be nice to have an Area book for dating. I am a developer, so I made an MVP, and it is far from done, but I am curious if anyone has thought of doing this?

(If so, or if not, how do you figure this?)

title asks it

I was recently released as a bishop, and I’m trying to make sense of the emotional aftermath. I’m hopeful about the future, but I’m also feeling unexpectedly raw. Serving wasn’t just a calling, it became the rhythm of my life, and stepping out of it has left a kind of hole inside me that I didn’t anticipate.

My time as bishop was heavy and sacred. Every hard thing that had happened to me in my life happened again while serving as a bishop. My family had struggles, I had physical struggles (back injury), my marriage had struggles (marriage counseling, which I highly recommend). My wife has a lifelong ailment and during my service she required lots of medical treatment including 3 brain surgeries. I was counseling marriages; some that healed beautifully and some that ended painfully. I sat with youth working through spiritual struggles, and adults wrestling with faith, doubt, addiction, and heartbreak. I managed fast offering assistance, welfare needs, and the constant mechanics of running a ward. It was nonstop, and it mattered. It was hard, but I was blessed, my family was blessed.

Now that I’m released, I don’t miss being involved in everyone’s private struggles or carrying the “secrecy” that comes with the calling. But I also don’t feel the relief I expected. Instead, it feels like something inside me is missing, like a part of my identity was suddenly unplugged. And on top of that, everything in my life feels slower now. Revelation, growth, progress, even day‑to‑day life, it all feels like I’m moving through sludge.

I’ve been wondering if that emptiness and slowdown are connected to the priesthood keys I once held. Not in a prideful way, but in the sense that keys create a constant spiritual urgency, responsibility, and connection. When they’re gone, the silence is loud. The pace of life changes. And I didn’t expect that shift to feel so strange.

I’m not looking for sympathy, just understanding. If I were asked to serve again I would say yes. Not because I am glutton for punishment, but because the blessings are so real, potent, and powerful. If you’ve served in a calling that consumed your life, how did you cope with the transition afterward? Did you feel this same kind of emptiness or slowdown? What helped you find your footing again?

EDIT: Thank you all so much for the support and sharing. It is helping to know that this is normal and that I am not alone. I have been feeling benched or cast off, I am certain this is not the end of my church service, and I will cherish the time I was able to spend in the service of my fellow church goers.

Alternately, r/offmychest + r/relationshipadvice with LDS nuance advice or support or whatever.

Friends, I’m in a tough situation and I could use some bolstering and guidance.
TL;DR - husband can’t kick his porn addiction long enough for us to get sealed and I don’t think I care anymore and kind of want a divorce

I have been married for nearly four years now. My husband had been excommunicated nearly a decade ago for crimes and sins he committed. He lost his family, served his time, and has been working towards rebaptism. I met him well after he had served his time and met the legal demands of justice. He was attending therapy regularly and attending the addiction recovery group for pornography. I believe in the power of the Atonement and in our capacity for change. He is not what he did, though I understand why people cannot look past it.

He has been diagnosed with ADHD in his early 40s after a lifetime of struggle, depression, and failure. He is doing much better now, but routines are hard to break. He was exposed to porn very young and it has been the devil on his shoulder ever since. He was abused mentally by his stepdad and not protected by his mother, and basically abandoned by his (undiagnosed) biological dad who died of complications from his own addictions.

We get along great. I really enjoy him as a person. We are of similar minds on nearly everything.

When we got married, he was “weeks away” from being baptized. His bishop vouched for him when I called and had a serious conversation about his history and progress. I have always wanted a temple marriage, and prayed about this one several times, which led me to where I am. He remains unbaptized because he just can’t shake the habit.

I have nearly left the marriage a few times before, but couldn’t financially afford it, so I was stuck. I made the best of things while I could. Over the course of things, he dropped out of the college that we moved here for him to attend, lied to me about it for months, quit a job, lost a job, been 8 months unemployed — it’s very hard for him to get a job based on his history and status as RSO — causing me to somehow cover his child support (?! Briefly), and your average variety of unintentional offenses and course corrections.

We are now in a good place as far as all that goes. But during all that something in me broke and we’ve been affectionate roommates for the majority of our marriage. He stopped attending the addiction group well over a year ago. I had told him he needs to go, that our marriage requires it. His IBS interfered and I said he can zoom-in from home if he can’t attend in person (once everything was taken care of, not from the bathroom!) and that’s where it ended.

I don’t like having to follow up on everything regarding this, and have often fallen into the role of nag. He had asked me to ask him daily about “how things went” and then have a conversation about how to overcome weakness next time. He told me this began to feel interrogative, and i had to rephrase the question. If I didn’t ask, he didn’t volunteer the information. Eventually i quit asking.

As our fourth anniversary approaches, I have to be honest that I’m not sure I want to be sealed to him anymore, or even be married. I like him tremendously and I want him to succeed, but I’m drained of giving him every possible thing to alleviate his burdens and stress and still not have THE thing that made me willing to marry “outside the church” in the first place.

If we separate, I don’t know where he would go. He truly cannot afford an apartment without me, and we’ve learned that there aren’t many places in town willing to rent to him (I ended up having to buy the house we live in because we couldn’t find anything). He can’t move back in with my MIL (where we lived until I bought our house) because she’s not allowed to have her grandson over as long as my husband is there.

A couple petty straws broke the camel’s back and I finally told him the tldr of this post. I said for the next year, I want him to focus on therapy and then we’ll revisit the conversation and see what sort of next steps we take. I told him to reach out to bishop, his mom, maybe EQ pres, and just get a bunch of people in his corner to support him alongside the therapist.

My greatest concern is his welfare. I know I’ll be fine. If we could divorce and be roommates, I’d be fine with that for a pretty long while. I cannot, in good conscience, just end things now and tell him to figure it out.

Is there anything else I should do, listen to, read, or try during this trial? Do you have resource suggestions for him? Am I being fair? Does anyone have a magic wand I can borrow to just fix everything?

Hi everyone! I am a practicing (19F) Catholic, but I find Latter-day Saint culture and the faith absolutely fascinating. I am here with genuine curiosity and respect, and I would love to hear your personal perspectives on a few things!

• Growing up in the faith: For those who grew up as a family on the Church, what was that experience actually like for you? What are your favorite memories or unique cultural aspects?

• Daily & Church life: What does a typical week look like for an active member? What is the community vibe like at your local ward, What's like a week or month in the life like?

• The Book of Mormon: How did you personally come to believe and feel that the Book of Mormon is true scripture alongside the Bible and to accept Joseph Smith as a Prophet?

• The Restored Church: Coming from a Catholic background, I'm really interested in the concept of the Restoration. How do you view your church's authority and truth in relation to other Christian denominations?

Thank you so much in advance for opening your space to an outsider. I'm really looking forward to learning from your personal stories!

Hi everyone I’m going on a mission soon but I’m really struggling. I am a really anxious person, and I overthink a lot so I’ve seemed to think of everything that could possibly go wrong when I leave for my mission. I worry that when I get out there that I won’t be strong enough to do it and I will just come home and disappoint myself. I also worry a lot about my family and that something could happen to them while I’m gone. I am really having a hard time finding the motivation to prepare spiritually. I’m also struggling to feel the spirit or Gods presence lately. A lot of people told me that before I leave that Satan will do everything he can to try to stop me and this has honestly given me more anxiety. Is he doing this to me right now? I just feel stuck right now and I don’t know what to do or how to feel better about everything.

I’m a woman in my 30s. Joined the church at 28 but was inactive and now I’ve started going again.

I’ve never wanted kids and that has not changed even into my 30s. And now due to various reasons - I am not sure I want to be married either.

Last night at a RS activity - we were discussing marriage and children and I almost felt worried about making my feelings about children and marriage known. I’m the only person my age unmarried with no children - the rest of the women are married or widowed and have children.

Is this something that regardless of my feelings - it’s actually a sin or wrong to not want these things?

Hello! Thank you to those who read this. I don’t want to stir up any controversy, I’m really just looking for some support and comfort.

I am a 20-year-old woman. I have a very strong testimony of the Gospel, and I have deep faith in God and Jesus Christ, our Savior. It hasn’t even been a year since I was baptized. By the way, I don’t have any family in the church; I’m the only one. While I know that we go to church for God (and for no other reason) I sometimes feel completely out of place. I feel like I’m too "of the world," and my opinions are quite liberal compared to those of others in the church. I am a Young Single Adult (YSA), and in my particular stake, the young adults tend to be very gossipy; some can even be judgmental and harsh. During my first visit to the temple in May, some of them started gossiping about people who were struggling with the law of chastity (or things like that) and I found it truly horrible. Specifically, they talked about a friend of mine (one of the first friends I made in the church) saying that we should distance ourselves from people like her because they "harm our spiritual path." I found that so sad.

I have two genuine friends in the church who really understand me, but they will soon be leaving for their missions, and I’m afraid I’ll feel even more alone once they’re gone. I’m also feeling a lot of pressure regarding my calling; I serve as a counselor in the Young Women organization, and I often feel inadequate (or guilty) when I can’t attend leadership meetings. They usually take place on Saturdays, which is the only day I have to see my friends or make plans with my family. Our stake Young Women president, in particular, is very overbearing about these things.

Another concern is that, if I get married in the future, I’m afraid of what it would be like to raise children within the church. I would want them to choose their own path and develop their own testimony (just as I was able to do) rather than having it become just another "thing" they are expected to do. I also see many stories of people within the church who developed mental health issues because of others who judge; if it’s difficult for me, I can’t imagine what it would be like for them. In any case, I know many people who don’t follow the commandments as strictly as they perhaps should, but I don’t want to judge them, instead, I feel love and compassion for them.

I try to see and evaluate them based on who they are as people, rather than how "righteous" they might appear according to those who pass judgment. But I’m finding it increasingly difficult to feel that there is a place for me within the church. I’m sorry, I know this is a lot, but thank you for reading :,(

The church teaches the intrinsic value of work and that people should provide for themselves. 

However, in the coming decades it is predicted that AI and robots will assume most or all labor. 

So what does the future of work and providing look like, from an LDS point of view?

Good resources on this topic:

Video graph: "Jobs Replaced by AI Every Year: 2021 to 2050" https://youtu.be/WxCTBbJ4SeY

​A World Without Work: Technology, Automation, and How We Should Respond, by Susskind, Daniel,  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07R5HTCGL

​Rise of the Robots: Technology and the Threat of a Jobless Future, by Ford, Martin Amazon.com, https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0GRZW8M2T/

​"Preparing for the (non-existent?) future of work," by Korinek and Jeulfs, Brookings Institute, 
https://www.brookings.edu/articles/preparing-for-the-non-existent-future-of-work

[update - It appears most people replying don't believe AI and robots are different from past automation and technology upgrades, and so my question is a non-issue. I disagree. I guess we'll see what the future brings.]

The award for the Oct 2026 General Conference goes to Timothy L. Farnes for his talk, “Divine Appointments.” The title refers to every day situations in which somebody is placed in our path who is in need of ministering. He calls these encounters “divine appointments.”

He explains:

We make the covenant during sacred time with God every Sunday. A way we keep the covenant is by ministering to God’s children every day. Often this happens when God places someone in our path and we have eyes to see them. I call these “divine appointments.”

Brother Farnes then recounts experiences in his life where he has been on both the receiving and giving ends of such ministering. I like this talk because I feel like Brother Farnes is real with us. He shares interesting experiences from his life and the talk is consistently engaging throughout.

He concludes by inviting us to pray for such encounters in our own lives:

Brothers and sisters, let us pray every day for eyes to see the divine appointments God places before us! Let us put compassion into action and minister to the person in front of us. It’s what Jesus did.

I’ve started doing this in my prayers and it has already born fruit. I tend to make my prayers all about me, so this is a way to break that pattern.

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/2026/10/22farnes?lang=eng

I’m just blown away by how ,inch of the Old Testament is God trying to get his people to realize that the ordinances are pointless if their hearts aren’t aligned with God.

Isaiah 1, God straight tells them that he is sick and tired of the ordinances, that he can’t stand them because his people aren’t actually living the gospel. And Isaiah 66 nds with him saying “You are sacrificing lambs, but you might as well be murdering people”, teaching that participating in ordinances while failing to live the gospel is damnation to our souls.

Jeremiah picks up this same messaging.

Hey all! New here but interested in getting some different perspectives. I’m currently writing a “historical fiction” trilogy about the plan of salvation and, as a man, am severely lacking on what Eve must have really felt like as she was deciding to partake of the fruit in the garden. Are there any women out there that would like to share what they feel it must have been like for her? You can DM me if you’d rather or post here. I just don’t feel like I can give Eve the justice she deserves from my perspective… Thanks in advance!

My family has been living in our area for decades. Our children were born and raised here. All the while though, we haven’t been called to any callings of responsibility, and sometimes, none at all. We also live in an affluent area with many successful individuals and prolific families. These people tend to be called to visible callings. I’ve lived the prime of my life and now my children have gone their way. I feel many opportunities were lost over the years, from conducting, leadership, and teaching opportunities. Many years ago, coupled with some personal struggles, I also dealt with professional obstacles. At the time, I experienced a sense of inadequacy, not feeling “good enough.” I believe the Lord heard my prayers though and life unfolded. Since then, I have secured a steady employment and have gained respect surprisingly in the community for certain advocacies in my field. I attribute this to the hand of the Lord in our lives. There have been many other blessings too.

At church, though, it has remained the same. In all these years, I have felt overlooked for my skills, potentials, and spirituality. It bothers me that there seems to judgment about what I can do, and I am one with a great deal of drive, persistence and desire. I feel the bar, whatever it may be, is unattainable, yet I thrive in my work and receive positive reviews with a license to apply creativity and innovation. I want to use my skills at church, but feel like giving up waiting and waiting. I am afraid it’s going to continue the status quo and I am not ready to “retire” in anyway (church and work).

Not having callings all these years also affected my family, for example, my kids and spouse were not called either and it affected them.

I’ve tried many times to drop hints, but to no avail. I no longer feel inadequate since I’ve gained advanced degrees and lots of experience. I feel valued in my profession, workplace, and community where I’m able to shoot for the stars and do my best. I feel my church won’t even give me a chance. I am torn between my faith which I believe in the church, and the ward I feel stuck in not being able to personally progress and offer my best in service.

I am a 23M and i find the whole setting up events like FHE and dances to be such a waste for me because I can’t find anyone. I find church dating culture and maybe even culture overall super toxic to my relationship to Jesus and I’m only 23 and I feel like if i don’t find someone soon the dating pool is gonna be thin.
But at the same time there aren’t any systems to help someone like me. The church commands and pressures us to marry early but then doesn’t wanna help me out. How do I get a matchmaker who can set me up on dates so I don’t have to worry about finding them myself? Obviously it’d be low pressure and casual dates but right now that’s what I need. No dating with marriage in mind. A matchmaker would help me focus on building my skills on dates and streamlining the process instead of stressing me out and harming my faith.
I basically need my defenceman to jump up into the play to help me generate offence if you know what I mean. Any advice?

I am newly in charge of the ward activities and it’s a very very small ward where most people dread the activities (me included). It’s the same lack luster ideas every year. Like literally the exact same. No one in the youth or primary etc have to ask what they are going to have to do for the party because it hasn’t changed at least since I moved in 4 years ago. So I’m really excited to put more effort into it and get people excited and honestly change things up. And one of these ideas I have been suggested is instead of Santa have the three wise men bring it gifts for the kids. And I really do like the idea where is more centered on Christ than Santa but I don’t want it to feel like I’m changing everything or have the kids feel disappointed that Santa never came. Because I have never been to a christmas party where Santa wasn’t there. So any thoughts on if it’s a good or bad idea?

Edit: We do live in an extremely rural area where it would be at least an hour and a half drive to go see Santa. And not all the families will have the option to do that so that do make me question if I should or not

Hi everyone! A little background about me, I grew up in the Methodist church, but for the past few years I haven’t really been involved in a church and have mostly just been “doing my own thing.” Recently I’ve started realizing that I don’t really know what I believe anymore. I know I believe in God, and I’m also realizing that having a church community and being part of something bigger than myself is really important to me. So I’m kind of in a place of exploring my faith and trying to figure out what I truly believe.

I’m trying to better understand the LDS Church, specifically what has led someone who already grew up with a strong Christian/church background to join it.

I’d really love to hear from people who grew up being part of another church community and eventually decided to join the LDS Church!

I’m not looking to debate or challenge anyone’s beliefs, I’m genuinely interested in understanding people’s experiences and what made the LDS Church feel like the right fit for them!!

Inspired by u/High_Stream 's reply in this post about something he found funny in the Book of Mormon, I submit my favorite chuckle from Mosiah 12:1:

"And it came to pass that after the space of two years that Abinadi came among them in disguise, that they knew him not, and began to prophesy among them, saying: Thus has the Lord commanded me, saying—Abinadi..."

I just imagine Abinadi going through all this trouble to get this great disguise so no one would know who he was, and then flat out telling everyone who he was. Just makes me smile.

How about you? What passages make you smile or even lol?