I HAVE A MEANINGFUL YET HARD TOPIC. PLS HELP ME WHAT TO IMPROVE. TRIED USING AI TO SUMMARIZE MY TALK. HERE IT IS:
My talk explores why suffering exists if God is all-powerful, all-knowing, and perfectly good (PROBLEM OF EVIL). I use the story of Chris Williams, who chose to forgive the drunk driver responsible for the deaths of his pregnant wife and two children, to discuss suffering and forgiveness.
I then connect suffering to repentance: our experiences can help us recognize our weaknesses, while repentance allows us to change and become more like Jesus Christ. I include Elder Jeffrey R. Holland’s teachings that suffering can be preparatory for exaltation, while emphasizing that suffering does not mean God has stopped loving us. I also reference D&C 122:7 and explain exaltation as becoming like our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ.
My main point is that suffering alone does not exalt us. Through Jesus Christ, we can learn from our experiences, repent, change, and prepare for exaltation.

and here’s my whole talk (I used AI to fully translate in english since my dialect is diff):

HELP ME GUYSSSS. I HAVE 12 HRS LEFT I GUESS. OR U CAN GIVE ME SCRIPTURE VERSE/STORIES THAT I CAN CHANGE. THIS IS MY SECOND TIME MAKING A TALK SO IM HAVING A HARD TIMEEE.

Taylor’s watch story, even if sincere, unfortunately has distracted from the pocket watch that almost certainly deflected a bullet, Hyrum's. The evidence presented by Hyrum's watch makes a frontal shot from inside the jail more likely. Look at a picture of his watch and there is a concavity in the front the size of a pistol ball.

The bullet dented the watch and fragmented, which explains what early accounts described as a bullet that both grazes his breast and strikes his chin. Because the watch slowed the momentum and only smaller fragments hit his chin and neck, Hyrum had a moment to yell out, "I'm a dead man!" before passing out.

I’ve posted here a short clip. The full 45 minute debate between Aron Ra and Kyle Adams is a painful watch. Kyle really isn’t prepared to defend Mormonism. He’s a believer and jumped in. Kyle is not much different than I would have been in my believing days up against an experienced debater.

This demonstrates that the average LDS believer really doesn’t have much more than “I had a feeling” so it’s true to base their religion on.

And the better debaters just say if you don’t already accept God magic as being real then I won’t debate my brand of religion with you. We will debate whether there is a God first.

Here is a link to the video

https://youtu.be/eoWhHtjH-T8?si=aVLueT6rj0AQ724-

Recent changes and edits have recently been made again to the Handbook.

Policy updates and changes can be positive sometimes.

But generally speaking, when I see these updates or hear about them in church on Sundays, I am uncomfortable with an increasing cultural tendency for church leaders and members to characterize Handbook edits as "revelation."

It feels like there's a noticeable absence of published revelation from church leaders, so we're left to expand a church policy update in the Handbook to an elevated status.

Hello, I'm a former lifelong Mormon who struggled with faith after leaving the Church and was agnostic for several years. Over the last year or so I’ve been starting to explore religion and Christianity again, which has been a very positive influence in my life so far. I feel like there are way more voices of former Mormons out there that are anti-religion than former Mormons who talk about continuing to have faith in Christ after leaving the Church, which I understand because losing faith in the LDS Church can create a lot of pain and trauma.

I decided to write a blog sharing my story, and I’d like to get input on what you all think. I’m just starting out, but I plan to post at least one article a week talking about my faith journey. Here’s the link to my blog: https://nauvootonazareth.com/about/

Thank you all in advance.

I remember when I first started knowing people in the Church I had a laugh and people would remark at how happy it sounded. They said it sounded like a genuine laugh. After a year in the Church, this was gone. In fact, I really didn't spontaneously laugh at all anymore. I remember thinking about that after two years when I couldn't think of when I had really laughed and felt good.

I've been somewhat not involved with the Church at all now for a bit now. And I was watching something and suddenly spontaneously laughed again. It startled me. Then a month or so later, it happened again. Now every few weeks I will have a spontaneous laugh. Every once in a while I will spontaneously laugh a few times a day. I love those days.

I'm noticing my personality is returning and I'm finding joy in life returning in small pieces here and there. I wanted to share and celebrate with all of you.

Reading Schedule & Discussion Index

Today’s reading

Begin at Part 2: “Prepare the Soil,” including its introductory material, then continue into Chapter 3: “Seeing.”

Stop BEFORE “Seeing Those Who Leave.” That section starts our next assignment. Approximate Kindle pages: 79 to around 90.

Brief synopsis

Strong shifts from describing disaffiliation to examining the conditions surrounding it. Part 2 frames that work around creating a Church environment where people can take root and stay. Chapter 3 opens with a nighttime bike ride: a headlamp helps someone see, but its narrow beam can leave other things invisible. Strong uses that contrast to argue that familiar beliefs can provide direction while also limiting what people notice.

He presents research graphics challenging familiar explanations for leaving, contrasting sin and worldly influence with concerns about belonging, Restoration claims, Church teachings, and lived experience. These are comparisons he attributes to his research with Dotson; the graphics alone don’t establish how representative those patterns are.

Through personal stories and Christian teachings, Strong argues for humility, learning beyond familiar assumptions, and recognizing the limits of our knowledge. His proposed response is explicitly rooted in faith, while also making room for study, reasoning, and critical thinking.

Discussion questions

1. What does the headlamp metaphor clarify, and where does it fall short?
2. How well do the research graphics support Strong’s argument about misunderstood reasons for leaving?
3. How might Strong’s faith-centered approach work for readers who no longer share that faith?

Non Mormon reading the doctrine and covenants and it would seem Joseph taught the trinity in the beginning or at least a modalist view of it. Anyone noticed this too?

I am a TBM of many years. It is our practice to not criticize church leaders, especially local church leaders, which is seen as a step toward apostasy. Recently I feel overwhelmed by disappointent in local leaders. I have many examples that I have excused over the years but this one captures the frustration. We serve in callings given to us by church leaders; not those we apply for or show an interest in. Years ago, I was serving in a Young Single Adult Ward (YSA) Bishopric which meant that I could not attend my own ward. After two years my home ward bishop called me in for an interview. He was a successful founder of a security company and took the stance of a CEO. Looking across his desk he asked transactionally, "What would it take to get you to be active in the Church again?" I was dumbfounded. His electronic records would show that I was totally active. I replied, "You know I am serving in the YSA ward, don't you?" He swallowed hard, regrouped, and tried this, "When you are not busy there could you come to our ward?" I said, "I serve from 7 am to 6 pm on Sundays and occasional nights during the week. When exactly would you like me to come to your ward?" That was the end of the conversation. I couldn't believe what an uninspired conversation he had just engaged in.