Belladonna
All posts written by "Belladonna"
By: Belladonna
For the past six years I've attended church in a ward that had exclusive use of its building. I have just moved into a different ward that has three congregations sharing the same facility on a rotating basis. That means the time of day that I go to my meetings will switch every year.
By: Belladonna
I just got a phone call informing me of the death of Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley.
By: Belladonna
Yesterday there was a major wind storm where I live. Gusts were blowing
By: Belladonna
Human beings develop knowledge and beliefs about truth based on several different factors.
Does it matter HOW you know what you know?
By: Belladonna
On top of the bookcase in my office I have three stuffed bears. They serve as a visual reminder of an important principle that has absolutely nothing to do with Goldilocks.
By: Belladonna
Mars is in retrograde - leading some of my more new age friends to make claims that the path of the red planet may wreak a bit of havoc in our lives over thte next few weeks. Even some of my LDS friends have been speculating
By: Belladonna
Apparently there has been a wording change in the Introduction to the Book of Mormon.
By: Belladonna
I recently had a conversation with a pal about the concept of "mortal sin" vs. "venial sin". Apparently, in other faiths sin comes in a hierarchy.
By: Belladonna
Where else but in the LDS church would you find a group of ten people willing to take time off from work to drive an hour and a half to dust and vacuum rooms that were already clean??
By: Belladonna
I have recently applied for a job which I would very much like to get. I have the
By: Belladonna
Today I was finally set apart as Enrichment leader in our ward. (I was sustained several weeks ago.) So now it is official. I truly am out of Primary. (BIG SIGH.) That's not a sigh of relief, mind you. It is one of ambivalence. I completely understand that all callings are for a season and that I grow spiritually as I accept both callings AND releases. But this particular release has been more difficult than most for me.
By: Belladonna
I've heard it said that active LDS people are some of the busiest people on earth. Not only do we have high standards of performance for ourselves in our jobs and family relationships, we also devote much time to church callings AND often taken on other responsibilities in our communities. Yes indeed, many of us are feeling the pressure of a very full plate.
By: Belladonna
This year has gone past in a flurry. How can it possibly be September again already? As we wind down summer my thoughts turn to preparing for holidays and holy days. September brings us Rosh Hashanah and Ramadan.
By: Belladonna
According to sociologist James Henslin, "Religion in the United States is stratified by social class....some religious groups are "top-heavy," and others are "bottom heavy"....Americans who change their social class also have a tendency to change their religion." (p 534-535)
A chart is given that shows the following ranking of faiths by social class with corresponding numbers for family income, educational level and occupational prestige:
By: Belladonna
I had a discussion recently with a pal about "the purpose of life." We were talking about the concept of this mortal existence being a test of sorts, to see how we will live when having to get by on trial-and-error and hearsay, having no memory of ever having lived in the direct presence of God. We kept circling around and around with two main questions: How can we be held responsible for covenants made in the pre-existence or some particular celestial plan if we were deliberately prevented from remembering them? Also - if God is as omniscient as folks say, what's the point of a test? Doesn't He know the outcome already?