Conference tecrus::mormonism

    RE; 2.17
    KELLY
    
    I think your intro was great and am glad you did write it.  Often
    times one of the most difficult things I have is meeting with those
    that have chosen another path.  Even as I write this I am fighting
    internally with choosing the best words to use that might not offend
    you or others.  Your uncle may or may not have the same problem,
    in other words, he might be as uncomfortable as you.  Then again
    I met some LDS in Utah that had no problem showing a superior attitude,
    however they were not in leadership positions.  Don't get nervous
    around others or feel like you must be what they want you to be.
    You are one place in your progression and others are in different
    places.  Where we are is not as important as which direction we are
    headed.
    And please participate here, it is good to have a different view 
    such as yours in amongst all the scriptorians. :^)
                 
    So where did you ancestors come from and how where they converted.
    Any good stories there?  Maybe you could start a new note, I think
    people would be interested in hearing about yours and others.
                 

    re 1
    thanks!just got through breezing through another notesfile...
    Mormons dont scare me any more  :-)
    i have never read so much intolerance in my whole life,that scares
    me a lot.
    okay someone asked about my family
    
    my great-great grandparents arrived in Weston idaho(jensen side)
    in 1864 witha mormon wagon train.
    my great grandmother (who lived to be 99 and died in 1983) established
    the first primary in glenns ferry under the direction of the president
    of the boise stake. they donated  a parcel of land so that the first
    church(LDS) could be built.she had 13 children
    
    kelly

    Re: Note 63.2 by SCOMAN::DAUGHAN 

    Hi Kelly,    
    
>   thanks!just got through breezing through another notesfile...
>   Mormons dont scare me any more  :-)
>   i have never read so much intolerance in my whole life,that scares
>   me a lot.
                             
    Just wondering...
    
    Did you mean intolerance shown by Mormons towards others, or
    intolerance shown toward Mormons, or some of both?
    
    Rich

    okay let me try that again...
    i dont like to read/hear people screaming at each other over religion.
    this notesfile is real peaceful,and i feel that i could learn a
    lot.i may have not a lot to offer,but i can read and listen.
    
    it scares me when i read things from people that are so strongly
    put that it leaves no room for discussion.i am sure that they dont
    realize that they are coming across that way,but it leaves me feeling
    trampled and beaten.i am very confused,not about my own personal
    beliefs ,but i guess about other people and why they are(not everyone)
    intolerant to people that believe differently.
    maybe i am naive,but it just seems that there could be better things
    to argue about than god.how can people listen and learn with all
    the fighting?
    i am sorry if this is stirring up trouble,i am VERY confused...
    looks like i opened up a whole 'nother can of worms on myself.
    
    kelly
    p.s.i am amazed at how much  catholic theolgy(sp?) has been ingrained
    into me(is that what i mean?)i havent been to church/mass in years.
    for all my professed discomfort with the catholic church i have
    been finding out how much has taken root and i do believe in.

Hi Kelly,

I'm glad that you are finding this notesfile peaceful.  Thanks for sharing
with us!

Allen

    Kelly:
    
    Thanks for sharing your concerns here.  I, too, get confused when
    people tend to get hostile over the issue of religion.  I feel that
    one's religion should bring peace of mind and spirit, and what may
    work for us may not work for the next person.  And that's okay.  We're 
    all at different points along the path back to our Heavenly Father. 
    
    Your P.S. regarding the Catholic theology that has been engrained
    into you without you realizing it struck a familiar chord with me.
    Even though I am Mormon, a lot of the beliefs I have about God I
    originally got from my upbringing in the Church of the Nazarene.
    The theologies of these two churches differ in many areas, but the
    Church of the Nazarene helped prepare me to accept the truthfulness
    of the restored gospel as presented by the Church of Jesus Christ
    of Latter-Day Saints.
    
    Thanks for participating in this conference.  I look forward to
    hearing from you.
    
    Tamara
    

    
    I am using this note to also say good-bye.  I am deleting this
    conference from my NOTES entries due to the lack of open mindedness the
    participants are showing, myself included.  Both Mormons and
    Anti-Mormons seem to have dug in their heels and no one is budging.
    I'd like to leave you all with the source of my NOTES personal_name. 
    It's a poem by the English poet Stevie Smith.  Think about it the
    next time you add a note about who's right about God and who's wrong.
    Bog is a Russion term for God.
    

				Our Bog is Dood

			Our Bog is dood, our Bog is dood,
			They lisped in accents mild,
			But when I asked them to explain
			They grew a little wild.
			How do you know your Bog is dood
			My darling little child?

			We know because we wish it so
			That is enough, they cried,
			And straight within each infant eye
			Stood up the flame of pride,
			And if you do not think it so
			You shall be crucified.

			Then tell me, darling little ones,
			What's dood, suppose Bog is?
			Just what we think, the answer came,
			Just what we think it is.
			They bowed their heads.  Our Bog is ours
			And we are wholly his.
					
			But when they raised them up again
			They had forgotten me
			Each one upon each other glared
			In pride and misery
			For what was dood, and what their Bog
			They never could agree.

			Oh sweet it was to leave them then,
			And sweeter not to see,
			And sweetest of all to walk alone
			Beside the encroaching sea,
			The sea that soon should drown them all,
			That never yet drowned me.

						--Stevie Smith
							1950



    

2.24

Goodbye Daniel.  I've enjoyed having you share with us in this conference.
Your questions have caused me to do some serious thinking.  If you should
feel a desire to visit us again, you will be welcome.

Allen

    re:2.24
    
    In case your lingering awhile;
    
    I have learned some truisms regarding behavior that you should think
    about.
    
    There is no change without conflict.
    
    Nobody acts outside of their own self-interest.                  
                                                                    
    The best way to bring about change is to keep people talking.  When
    communication ends is when there is no change. ( a good salesman   
    gives up when they have run out of things to say or have a better  
    lead. As long as a customer is talking there is a chance for a sale)
    
    
       
           

    Re: 2.24
    
    I, too, will miss your participation, Daniel. I've enjoyed your
    thought provoking entries in the past.
        
    Rich

    Re: 2.25
    
    Penny,
    
    Thanks for sharing your testimony with us. I, for one, was very
    touched by what you said.
    
    Rich

    Re 2.25
    
    Penny:
    
    I was very impressed by your entry.  You shared some very personal
    experiences with us - and I, for one, am glad that you did.  Spiritual
    experiences such as the ones you have shared here are very special
    and I view them as a *personal* gift of love from our Heavenly Father.
    
    I really liked the part where you talked about having to quit listening
    to the "commands" of human beings, and begin listening to your
    spiritual self.  (Actually, this is my interpretation of what you
    said.)  For myself, I know that I have spent far too much time doing
    what others wanted me to do, and sometimes doing what *I* wanted
    to do - and I haven't taken into consideration what Heavenly Father
    would like me to do.  I think they call this "relying on the arm
    of flesh."
    
    Penny, I look forward to your participation in this conference.
    Welcome aboard from a network buddy!!
    
    
    Re 2.24
    
    Daniel:
    
    I, too, am going to miss your participation.  Thank you for including
    the "farewell" poem.  I have a better understanding now what is
    meant by "Our Bog is Dood".  I never understood it before.
    
    Good luck to you!!
    
    
    Tamara
          

Re 2.26

Hi Gary,

Thanks for sharing your testimony with us!

I am also disheartened by the contention in this conference.  Many wonderful
people have come to this conference with a sincere desire to learn about and
understand us Mormons, and it is proper and good that we explain and share
with them; we are all followers of the Savior and can all learn from and
strengthen each other.

However, I'm concerned about those who are coming with the intent to
"prove wrong", attack, destroy.  They bring a bitterness of heart and
a spirit of contention that is not good.   I really like your concluding
statement, Gary.

    If you do not believe me and the spirit communicates nothing
    to you then there is no point in attacking my "logic".  I will let
    you believe as you will.  Let me worship Christ as I will.
      
Allen    
  
    
    
        
    
     
  	 
      

    Re:  63.10 (Re: 2.25)
    
    Rich,
    
    I'm truly grateful that you enjoyed my testimony.  I can't begin
    to thank my Heavenly Father for changing my life and helping me
    to find the truth.  My Patriarchal Blessing admonished me to share
    my testimony in both public and private conversations.  I guess
    this notes file is about as public as I can will ever be able to
    find.
    
    Penny
    
                         

    Re:  63.11 (Re: 2.25)
    
    Tamara,
    
    Thank you for your reply to my testimony.  It is my joy and pleasure
    to share my spiritual experience with all of my brothers and sisters.
    My Patriarchal Blessing has admonished me to bear my testimony in
    both public and private conversations.  You did interpret my words
    correctly regarding listening to humans vs. my spiritual self. 
    I did not realize I had an inner spiritual self to listen to until
    I had this spiritual experience.  It certainly woke me up for the
    good. Talk about living in spirutual darkness!!!!!!!  I'm so grateful
    that my eyes can finally see and my ears can finally hear and
    comprehend the things relating to our Heavenly Father.  I have never
    known this kind of joy and peace before I became converted to Mormonism.
                                                                            
    I did not reply to your message and Rich Kotter's before this as
    I did not realize this note (63.*) existed in the directory.  I don't have
    much time to read and participate in this conference but when I
    do, it is simply wonderful.
                                                                              
    Love in Christ,
    Penny
    

    Due to the request of a moderator, I have moved this note from topic
    2 to avoid a rathole.
    It thus refers to note 2.28.
    
    Paul V
    
    
                  <<< CACHE::USER3:[NOTES$LIBRARY]MORMONISM.NOTE;1 >>>
                     -< The Glory of God is Intelligence >-
================================================================================
Note 2.29                     Let's get acquainted                      29 of 29
IOSG::VICKERS "Baruch haba ba shem Adonai"            8 lines  25-APR-1988 03:47
                        -< Excuse the rathole but.... >-
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    
    re .28
    
    As far as I have seen, all of those features (except maybe no.5
    to a degree) are all features of the regular (ie non Mormon) Christian
    church. I see these things happen quite regularly....
    
    Paul V

Re 2.29

Hi Charles,

Welcome to the conference.  We're glad you've joined our conference, and
we hope you enjoy your fellowship with us!  We have a common faith and
acceptance of Jesus Christ as the Son of God, the Messiah, the Reedemer, and
we can help each other grow in faith and love of Him.

Allen

	Re: Note 2.13   -< ODD MAN OUT >-



	Hi Leza,
		I would like to respond to your intro note as you asked 
	a question that you said you never get an answer to.  


    
 >   I will probably be the odd man out in this conference as I am not
 >   a Mormon nor do I plan to become one.  However, you need to know
 >   where I am coming from to know why.
    
	I read your story.  It does explain some about "where you are 
	coming from" but it is still unclear as to WHY and where you 
	are trying to end up, or what are you trying to achieve?
    
 >   I sought the Lord, and I will admit there was a burning sensation
 >   in my bosom. 

	Which is what was promised.  The Holy Ghost is very subtle and 
	will never try to win anyone over to the truth with fireworks.
 

 >   Following that was what I am feeling now, I have the
 >   shakes, as if I am cold, but I am not, it is the power of the Holy
 >   Ghost....
        
	I feel you have answered your own question but refuse to SEE.
	You made contact with the Holy Ghost AND the adversary as Joseph
	Smith did and as others have, at the same occasion.  If you 
	use your own feelings as the fruits of contact with these two 
	entities, which feelings should you assign to the Holy Ghost and 
	which to the adversary?  Fear, tension, cold, are not what one
	receives from interaction with the Holy Ghost but rather Peace,
	warmth, love and light.  We have been taught that when we pray
	for an answer to a question from Father that we will either get 
	a positive feeling (i.e. burning and warmth) or we will get a 
	stupor of thought, nothing.  This is consistent with the basic
	premise that we receive only "Good" from God and evil from satan.
	We do not get a burning for "yes" and chills for "no", from God.
	We will either get a good feeling or we will get nothing.  From
	Father.  
		Again..
		  
 >   Following that was what I am feeling now, I have the
 >   shakes, as if I am cold, but I am not, it is the power of the Holy
 >   Ghost....
	
	I question your assertion: " it is the power of the Holy Ghost...."
 
 

 >   and I was firmly told that Mormonism was not the correct religion
 >   and that it was contradictory to basic Christian beliefs.
	
	I don't care how you heard it or what was said, your own description
	of the associated feeling indicates that it was not of God.

   
 >   I was eventually led to an Assembly of God church where I accepted
 >   the Lord Jesus Christ into my heart and life 
		
	I am glad that you accept Jesus.  That is so important. 


   
>    As a result, I have been studying the Mormon religion as to why
>    it is not a Christian religion.  I have begun my report in note
>    38 and hope you take time to see why.
        
	This is nonsequitor and illogical.  Please explain to me how
	you make the jump from the Mormon church being not the right
	church for you, to why you have devoted your life to proving 
        that I do not revere and worship Jesus the Christ.
		Do you invest as much time disproving other religions
	also?   Do you spend as much time on those who do not even
	confess Jesus is the Christ?  Do you bash Buddhists also?
		So what if my belief, that Jesus and His Father are
	separate beings but comprise one God, is not the same as yours.  
	It still does not explain why you have invested so much of your 
	life in attacking my beliefs.
		Allen has been very patient and tolerant with you and
	has given you the benefit of the doubt that your motives are 
	sincere and well intentioned.  I do not share that belief.
	You have been vague and evasive about why you have worked so 
	hard to tear down and to contend.      
    
   > We will all know that when Jesus returns.
	
	Yes we will my sister, Leza.  Let us all look forward to that 
	day.  

>     However, a question I have asked many times but never have received
>    an answer:
    
>    which Holy Ghost do I have if I speak with other tongues and know
>    his presence?  And which told me that Mormonism was false?

	There is only one Holy Ghost.  You have read more church history 
	than I have so I am fairly certain that you know of the occasion
	where the Prophet Joseph Smith explained our belief of speaking
	in tongues, being of satan if there is any behavior that is unseemly
	or unusually agitated.  I would be glad to research it out for 
	you if you really want the LDS belief on Speaking in Tongues.
    		There is a very fine note on inspiration that I printed
    	out to share, it was entered by Allen. It is note 118.

	It is also facetious to ask, "And which told me that Mormonism
	was false?", in this conference.  Which makes me doubt your
	next assertion:
    
>    My goal is not to get anyone upset or mad, although I am sure it
>    will happen. 
	It does hurt to have one of Father's children, my brothers or
	sisters, reject what I know to be true and trample it under 
	their feet.  You insult and attack that which is most dear to
	me.  I am not mad or angry.  I am bewildered at my own inability
	to explain the truth to you in a way that will allow the Spirit
	to touch your heart, but I am not mad.  
		We are counseled not to contend for the spirit of 
	contention is not of Christ.  We all want to be valiant in the
	defense of our faith.  Somewhere among these two ideas is where
	we try to be.  I have been told more than once of my lack o' tact.
	So I apologize now for any offense I have given and ask forgiveness.

    


		As I read your notes I often try to see what it is that
	you are really trying to do.  No where have you clearly stated 
	the purpose for your massive assault on "Mormonism".  President
    	Lincoln once described the Mormons as a huge stump in the field
    	that he would just have to plow around.   Why don't you just
    	plow around us if you do not agree?  
    	       If, as you have stated, you really do believe it is false 
        then it seems that it would behoove you to spend your time doing 
        what Christ teaches us to do as opposed to spending so much time 
        seeking ratification of your rejection of my faith.  You do claim 
        to follow Him.
    
    	
	So do I.  At least I try to.

	In His Love,    
	-gary

    

Re 2.13 and 63.16

I thought I would mention for the benefit of those who may not have read note 4
that 4.7 discusses the Biblical concepts involved with our recognizing answers
to our prayers, including the idea that Gary mentioned that answers from the
Holy Ghost involve warmth not cold.  Satan is real and is the Prince of
Darkness.  His answers to our prayers bring cold and contention.  God is real
and is a God of Light.  His answers involve warmth and peace.

Allen

    To Gary Larsen in 63.16
    
    AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    
     400-lined notes  from Leza maks me also wonder why someone
    would go to such great lengths.

                     
    But, as my mother said: Live and let live!
    
    Paul

    
    Well ...........
    
    Though I disagree with 99% of Leza's statements, 'facts' and opinions,
    I would not want to have this conference become one-sided either.
    For instance, if her last note were not entered, we would probably
    not have received the benefit of Gary's excellent reply.
    
    I live in the Bible Belt and work just up the road from Heritage
    USA (PTL, Jim and Tammy).  I have just about had it with the double
    standard of Mormon-bashing that is so common here. How anyone can
    accuse the Prophet Joseph Smith of being an adulterer and at the
    same time profess to live by the 10 Commandmants (including the
    law against bearing false witness) and then be ministered to by
    Jim Baker and Jimmy Swaggert (Assembly of God preachers until
    recently) is beyond my understanding.  I've invited their missionaries
    into my home and then had them tell me that as a Mormon, I'm Satan's
    tool and bound for Hell.
    
    I think the reaction of the 'natural man' is to strike out in anger
    against the false teachings, ignorance and the resultant persecutions
    that have historically resulted in so much suffering by Christians
    and especially Latter_Day Saints since the restoration. But I think
    it is and has always been a great blessing to the Church that it
    teaches tolerance and long suffering and encourages all it's members
    to strive to teach by word and deed, with kindness unfeigned, in
    spite of the revilings.
    
    I commend the moderator for the tone of this conference and encourage
    the doubters to share with all of us why you believe as you do.
    We can take it.
    
    |:})
    /steve
    
    

    This conference, in my opinion, is for the most part full of
    spiritually uplifting material.  The times when it is not are dominated
    by notes by those who want to bash Mormons.  This bashing is pretty 
    easy to do here, not because Mormons are easy to bash but because they
    are very tolerant.  Hence, there is little resistance to anyone
    who wants to bash.  
    
    So far, I've noticed that the responses of the Mormons to the bashing
    has had far less animosity than the attacks.  There has been little
    apology or retraction for attacks in spite of inaccuracies and biases 
    pointed out.  On the contrary, more than once the attacks have been
    repeated, ignoring previous responses.  The responses, though not 
    official Church responses, have been for the most part founded in
    Church policies and statements.  Mormon noters have been criticized
    here for not changing their feelings and for adhering to the beliefs
    of the Church.  Even this was met with tolerance and sincere
    expressions of love.
    
    I welcome rational discussion of Church doctrine.  I admire Allen's
    research and patience in responding.  But, I've stopped reading
    Leza's notes.  It's not because of any lack of faith on my part,
    nor because she has found anything that hasn't had or doesn't have an
    answer.  It's because I get no gain from them, nor from any other
    notes that are written with a spirit of contention.  
    
    My testimony is not a debatable issue.  The only debates involved
    with my testimony are between me, myself and the Lord.  I am happy
    to learn more and I am happy to help others understand my beliefs
    if they have interest.  I have no quarrel with someone of another
    belief just because they have another belief.
    
    It is seldom sincere when an attack is softened with a preamble similar
    to, 'I would accept the Mormon Church except for ...'.  I've not met
    or known of anyone that has accepted the Church because of having such a 
    concern answered, though it has sometimes provided opportunity to
    correct a misconception or two about the Church.  Instead, the attack 
    usually continues with a different topic, ignoring or otherwise
    suddenly placing less emphasis on what was previously heralded as an 
    important and fundamental problem with the Church.
    
    The Church is an organization and will someday end.  The members
    of the Church are not perfect.  But, the Gospel is perfect, true,
    always was and will last forever.  I believe Joseph Smith was a prophet
    of God.  I believe that God has raised up prophets in our day and that 
    Ezra Taft Benson is His oracle today.  I love my fellow man and strive
    to serve, study and worship the Lord and love and serve my brothers
    and sisters (both in the Church and out).  I'm not perfect, but I'm
    trying to be and I believe that someday I can become perfect.  I love 
    the Bible, the Book of Mormon and the other scriptures.  Most of all, 
    I love the Lord and know that He is with me so long as I try to live 
    and love the way I know I should.  


    Steve    

    Re: < Note 2.33 by MEO78B::HUTCHINGS >
    
    Dear Mark,
    
    I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to share your testimony
    and conversion with us. I, for one, was uplifted by it today.
    
    Your brother,
    Rich
    

    Re: 2.35 by UTROP1::BILLAR
    
    Welcome Charles! Glad to have you on board. My grandmother is Dutch,
    and so I found your comments interesting.
    
    If you find the network slow, you might consider noting in batch,
    using a tool called ENOTES. There is a whole conference dedicated
    to that tool on DECWET::ENOTES. It allows you to easily extract
    notes and read the extracts without waiting for the network. There
    is also a tool called NOTES_EXTRACT.TPU that allows you to read
    them with a simulated notes-style keypad, and even allows you to
    write and reply to notes while you're reading the batch extracts.
    Let me know if you would like more information.
    
    Rich
        

    
    
    
    
    Rich,
    
    Thanks for your welcome, it's 21.55 hrs in the evening here when
    I read your response.
    
    I am still finding my way through a number of notes.
    I'll talk to you soon.
    
    Joy and peace,
    
    Charles

>    Well, to keep a short story short, one thing led to another and
>    after having the Elders (missionaries as we call them here-sorry
>    for my Dutch) coming around for about 9 months, I was baptized.


Gee, that is what we call them too (Elders or missionaries) :-)

Welcome to the conference!!!!!

Chad

Re 2.37

Hi Peter,

Welcome!!

The only 'stupid' questions are those that don't get asked, so please ask
away...

Allen

    Wow, no one new since I first introduced myself.
    Well, I have to sign off since I'm going back to school.  I'll
    see you next summer when I'm back at it again.
    I've enjoyed reading and sometime participating in this conference.
    Y'all take care, now.
    Peter G.
    
    

Re 2.38

Have a nice year at school, Peter.

Allen

    I'll be away from this conference for quite awhile after July 14th.
    After 4 years here in Massachusetts, I'm bidding a fond farewell
    to DEC and our family is moving off to Texas, where I'll be employed
    by TI at their Lubbock facility.  Before we left, I wanted to say
    thanks to the moderators for creating this conference and to the
    other employees who contributed to it.  I have been mostly a read-
    only participant and I have learned a lot and have truly enjoyed
    the opportunity to hear opinions and see many of the topics under
    discussion from the viewpoints of others.
    
    My wife and I are both finding the decision to leave to be much
    harder than we thought it would be when we first arrived in New
    England.  It was a big adjustment, but we have made so many good
    friends both in and out of the church back here that it is a very
    difficult thing moving so far away.  We have long wanted to get
    back closer to our families in the west, but have never really pushed
    the issue.  Now this opportunity has opened up so effortlessly that
    it seemed almost too good to be true.  After a great deal of prayer
    and consideration, we are convinced that it's the right thing for
    us at this point in our lives.
    
    I wish all participants in this conference the best in their personal
    and professional endeavors.  I will miss the conference and the
    generally uplifting influence it had on me.
    
    May the good Lord bless you all.
        
    Dave

    Even though I have not seen you or christa in some time, I still have
    some good memories of socializing with you, especially do I remember
    the on the floor, Japanese-style dinner you hosted for our dinner
    group.   Sorry to see you go, happy to see you fulfill some dreams and
    plans.  I  will just consider that now I have a friendly port in
    Lubbock if ever I need shelter from the storm.
    
    Good luck to you and your family.  I feel rewarded for having known you
    and Christa.
    
    God speed and God bless,
    
    Paul
        

Good luck, Dave, and the best of success to you with your new job, and to
your family in adjusting to the new area.

Allen

    Toni,
    
    Just to let you know that you are not alone, I am a member of the
    church and I work in the Leaherhead office.  It certainly is nice
    to have a fellow-member working at Digital.  I tried to look you
    up in the Digital directory but your name is not listed there, are
    you new!.
    
    This is the first time I have accessed VAXNotes so I hope this message
    arrives with you.  If you want to contact me I am on 7844 3211 and
    my mail stop is ESO.
    
    I will make an attempt to put some info onto the systems for the
    others to read.
    
    Hope to speak to you soon!
    
    Kind Regards,
    
    
    Kim Shrubb
    
    

Re 2.48

Hi Tamara,

Welcome back to the conference!  You've made some important decisions since
you last shared with us.  I respect your sincerity, and I'm looking forward to
listening to you, as you may decide to share with us about your reasons for
changing religions.

Allen

    Re: 2.48
    
    Yes, welcome back Tamara! 

    
    Hi Tamara!
    
    I wondered what had become of you. Welcome back to the conference!
    I look forward to your participation.
    
    Kevin St Thomas

    Re: Note 2.49 by AIMHI::KOUTROUBAS

>                               -< LAUNA MARSH >-

    Hi Paul, 
    
    There are several hundred thousand people living in Salt Lake City,
    perhaps half of which are members of the LDS church. There are some 6
    or 7 million members of the church worldwide. Chances are slim that a
    Digital employee reading this conference would know your friend.
    
    However, here are a few suggestions for you to try:
    
    1- Call directory assistance for Salt Lake City to see if the phone
    company can help you: 801-555-1212.
    
    2- Send a letter to LDS Church headquarters and ask them to forward
    your letter to her. The Church will not release addresses of its
    members, but they will forward a letter to them, if they know the
    person's whereabouts. I'm not sure which department to send the letter
    to, but if you send it to the following address and explain what you
    are trying to do, they should be able to direct your letter to the
    church department that can help. You must be as specific as possible,
    since there could be several church members with the name Launa Marsh.
    Include her birthdate and age, if you have it, her last known location,
    and her parents names, if you have them. If she is married, give
    them both her married and maiden names, if you have them.
    
    	The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
    	50 East North Temple Street
    	Salt Lake City, Utah  84150
    
    3- Send a letter to her last known address and mark it "Address
    Correction Requested". If the post office has a forwarding address,
    they will send it to you. This will cost a small fee. I know it
    used to be 25 cents.
    
    Good luck on your search.
    
    In Christ's Love,
    Rich

    Re: Note 2.49 by AIMHI::KOUTROUBAS
    
    Paul, I looked in the SLC telephone directory and there is no listing
    for a Launa Marsh or even an L. Marsh.  As Rich suggested, some
    additional information may be helpful in locating her.  

    Due to personal circumstances, I am having to restructure the use of my
    time in many ways. I have reluctantly decided to to stop noting for the
    time being, except as may be required to get my job done. Since I have
    been active in some of the recent discussions, I wanted to make those
    aware that might be responding to things that I wrote. 
    
    I have immensely enjoyed this conference, the interesting discussions
    that we have had, and especially working with Allen Leigh as
    co-moderator. 
    
    Rich Kotter

Rich,

I've enjoyed our association in past months, and I appreciate your sense of
kindness and tact in dealing with touchy situations.  Good luck & God bless
you.  If you get back here for training again, please give me a call!

Allen

    Thanks, Brother Kotter, for your participation.  I'll miss your
    knowledgeable and spiritual responses, and hope you'll be able to
    join us again.
    
    aq
    

    Rich,
    
    I have done very little noting for the last month or so due to illness
    and heavy outside responsibilities. One of the things I've been looking
    forward to (now that I'm on the mend, etc) was tackling your recent notes 
    in some of the more active topics, but now you say you won't be around
    for a while...
    
    Sorry to hear that - you're one of the better arguers I've had to deal
    with, and that's the way I like it. (Of course I still think your 
    arguments are refutable, else why would I keep coming back!)
    
    I hope that your priorities reorg accomplishes what you want - and that
    maybe you'll return sometime.
    
    Ed

    Ed, I'm sorry to hear you've been unwell and glad to hear you're on the
    mend.  Welcome back!
    
    aq
      

    Hello everyone.....
    
    	I have not participated in this notesfile for quite some
    	time due to work overload :=)  I want to take this time to
    	tell all of you that I am taking the early retirement
    	package and my last day of work will be May 29th.  
    
    	The Lord has called me to do full-time work for Him with
    	my inactive husband, son, and family members who have not
    	yet accepted the gospel message.  I received this message
    	through a blessing I had in December.  At the time, I had
    	no idea of how I would fulfill the message given to me in
    	that blessing where I was told to put my husband and family
    	as #1 priority in my life and 'soon' I'd be able to go to
    	the Temple and be sealed for T&E to them.  Twelve weeks later
    	the early retirement package came out.  You had to be 50 to
    	qualify. WEll, I turned 50 seven days before they announced
    	the package.  What a testimony builder this has all been for
    	me.  How the Lord has provided a way for me, and he is answering
    	my prayers.  The past 7 years of my husband and son being
    	inactive and leaving the Church have been very painful and
    	rough on me.  I now see a glimmer of hope, and this is a test
    	of faith for me.  I'm doing my best to endure to the end.
    	The benefits of working for the Lord far outweigh any benefits
    	that Digital can offer me.  My new phone number at my new place
    	of employment is 1-800-LUV-LORD.
    
    	Many blessing to all of you and much love. If we don't get a
    	chance to meet on earth......I'll be looking for you on the
    	other side of the veil :-)
    
	Thanks for providing this wonderful network Allen!
    
    	Penny Sousa
    

    Congratulations,
    
    I am glad that you have this great opportunity. I certainly am glad to
    see you have this opportunity to focus on your eternal relationships. I
    pray that you will also be blessed with discernment that your newfound
    time for your family will not seem overwhelming to them but rather will
    seem like a gift that is just what they want.
    
    May we all keep the "800 number" to our Lord really active.
    
    Love
    
    Len
    

    awriiiiight, Penny!  Thanks for all your sharing, and prayers and good
    wishes for you and your family.
    
    1-800-LUV-LORD???
    
    :)
    aq

Hi Penny,

Super!!  You've had a lot of faith and prayers for your husband during
the past several years, and it will pay off!

Thanks for all of the spiritual contributions you've made to the conference.
I hope we bump into each other in the Littleton building and at Stake
Conference.

Love,

Allen & Judy

RE 2.55

Hi Joe,

I lived in Phoenix for 11 years.  I lived on 19th Ave, across the street from
West High School, for 5 years, and then I lived on 32nd Street, between
Shea and Thunderbird, for the rest of the time.

I've been in New England for 16 years and love it.  A great place to raise a
family.

I'm also at HLO.  Stop by and say hi.  HLO2-3 @pole B6.  Phone is 5045.

Allen

Re 2.57

Hi Abraham,

Welcome to the conference.  It's wonderful that you have accepted Jesus Christ!
We hope our faith and testimonies that are scattered throughout the conference
will be a strength to you, and we look forward to sharing your testimony as the
Spirit may prompt you to comment.

Allen

    Hi Gary, welcome to the conference. There are a few of us LDS here in 
    ALF. Stop by when you get a chance.
    
    Frank Mueller
    x31225
    3rd floor, pole Y28

    Welcome, Gary; hope to hear the "other stories"
    
    aq
    

    Scott,
    
    There are a lot of us still here, but read-only.  Don't worry, you have
    people here that are so busy in and out of the Church they don't have
    much time to write. Or they are like me and writing a note is such an
    effort that they rarely do it.  I'm just relearning NOTES and have such
    a time that being read-only is better for now.
    
    So, It is good to hear from someone in AZ.  I just had a very good
    friend move there from our ward and he is loving it.  Course there are
    so many WARDS there I doubt if you would have met him.  It's not like
    up here in New England.  Or how it used to be anyway, back when there
    was one ward for most of NH and part of MA.
    
    Anyway, welcome and have fun.
    
    rich allen