My personal feelings are that if we are not "in tune" spiritually with our Heavenly Father then we may not recognize some of the guidance he's trying to send our way. The more spiritually in tune we are, the more we'll recognize his works. As far as if someone in thier past has been remote from the church and then repents and asks for guidance, I think Heavenly Father is more than willing to send us that guidance. Remember Alma the younger in the Book of Mormon and the sons of Mosiah? They were pretty rebellious as youth and did some hurtful things toward the church, but they repented and became very righteous men. Just my own thoughts on the matter. Congratulations on your surgery. Melody

I won't be there because I am still in California. But thank for the invite. When I do move you can count me in. -Jonathan

There is a group of lap-band patients that gets together once a month for an unofficial support group/dinner. Speaking of which, it is this coming Monday. Monday, January 16th. at 5:30 p.m. at Cracker Barrel by the E-Center 2283 City Center Ct. West Valley City, UT 84118 801-977-8221 Spread the word! Let me know if you are planning on joining the party. [email protected]

Im totally depressed about this. Im from New Zealand, I moved to the USA about 5 years ago. My Dad is on the mission presidency these 2 boys were in. My Mum e-mailed me about this yesterday. My Dad got the call, he is on the mission presidency and the mission president was out of town. The missionaries were driving from Timaru to Temuka for a dinner appointment. She said they were speeding, 140 km's (approx 90 miles an hour) & on a bad stretch of road. They swerved into on coming traffic. They hit another car head on. An elderly lady in the on coming car died, and her daughter & son in law are in serious condition. She said the missionaries died on impact, they car was engulfed in flames. They saw the news footage, and she said the car's were just totally mangled. I was almost crying at work when I got her e-mail yesterday. She said Dad was finally able to get in contact with the mission president, and the families had been notified. They were in meetings all morning yesterday. Here is the official new's article: Three die in head-on collision 07 January 2006 By JOHN KEAST Two young United States church workers and an elderly Ashburton woman were killed in a high-speed, head-on smash on a usually quiet South Canterbury road last night. Police believe the white Toyota used by the church workers crossed the centre line while heading to Temuka on the Temuka-Waitohi Road in rural South Canterbury at 5pm yesterday. Their car smashed into a Nissan heading to Pleasant Point. The names of the victims have yet to be released. The Toyota driven by the church workers, believed to be members of the Church of Latter Day Saints and from Nevada, was destroyed by fire after impact and both occupants were burnt beyond recognition. It is believed the pair were going to a meeting when the crash happened. The driver of the Toyota was found in the car and the passenger was thrown out. The car fire also set fire to a roadside gorse hedge and passers-by managed to pull the Nissan clear of the fire. Sergeant Paul Scoble, of Temuka, said the woman killed in the Nissan was a front-seat passenger. She was in her 70s. The female driver of the Nissan was in Timaru Hospital last night with severe leg injuries and her husband, a back-seat passenger, was also in hospital with moderate injuries. Scoble said it appeared high speed was a factor in the crash, with the Toyota crossing into the path of the other car. Both cars were destroyed in the crash. Emergency crews closed off the straight road west of Temuka as ambulance, police and funeral directors cleared the scene. Scoble said one occupant of the Toyota was confirmed as a United States citizen and the other man was also thought to be American. A Nevada driver's licence was found at the scene. The serious crash squad from Christchurch was due at the scene last night and police expect to release the names of those killed over the weekend. There were no witnesses, but police are interviewing those first on the scene. A representative of the church said senior church officials had been notified about the smash. Mission leader Michael Finegan, of Wellington, could not be contacted for comment. The smash brings the 2006 road toll to seven, compared to two at the same time last year. This year's higher toll follows the death of 22 people on the roads during the official holiday period.

Ohhhh, my heart was in my throat as I read this...SO MANY mothers who are righteous and have raised their children righteously go through this! I hold a stake position and my counselor in the stake presidency and I had a meeting the other day...I knew he was having trouble with his kids but when I asked, to my horror, he burst into tears. His teen-age daughters (3 of them) have all turned their backs on the the gospel, one says she is an atheist now, and they all have been or are into drugs, illicit sexual relationships, etc--two of them don't even live at home any more, they are in some druggy community somewhere. Two of them have been expelled from school for good. I can tell you I have known this man and his wife for twenty years, and they are the finest of the finest--the best mother and father I've ever seen, and I've been a member all my life! He said his wife had to be hospitalized last week because she just had a nervous collapse...and this is so unlike her, I was astounded. She's so strong. But I knew, I knew! I went through this with my daughter, and I was a struggling single mother! It was so horrid--everyone thinks their story is the worst, but let me tell you, mine was bad. My children are all grown now, and they have all become inactive--but they are wonderful people, my daughter became "normal" again some years later when she had suffered enough--and she is a nurse now with a wonderful husband and children. She is the delight of my life (she will be 38 this month). My sons are wonderful too, my oldest is in the Army in Iraq, he is such a noble warrior, and my youngest is an engineer, in a very happy marriage. They all went through what you are describing (my daughter being the very worst--I did not expect to see her alive, for a two-year period). I know they will all come back to the gospel some day--I have the sweetest assurance of that. When the prophet challenged us to read the BOM by the end of Dec, I was really mourning one day because I still worry about my kids' salvation...and this scripture JUMPED off the page at me, it made me cry and cry all day, because I instantly knew it was true. Read 1 Nephi 21:25, and pay special attention to the last phrase. Let it live in your mind every day, and YOU HANG ON. Do all you can, then step back and deliver your burden to the Savior. You must, or you will die of sadness and terror. Take it from one who has been there. Now, for the restoration of your temple blessings--this always takes a long time--I was involved in something similar several times, and it takes 6 months to a year. Do not fear--you are noticed and they are aware of you--these things will come to you soon. The angels will rock and comfort you, my sister. It is your right to summon them and call down the shield of the strongest and sharpest sword to fight the Enemy--remember that you are a Mother in Israel, and there is NO force on this earth more powerful! I was told in a blessing once that the ONLY reason I did not perish when I was once living a dangerous lifestyle was the PRAYERS OF MY RIGHTEOUS MOTHER!!!! And don't you forget it! Now you pray and fast, and go to the foot of the Mercy Seat for your wonderful daughter. You will see--things will change. They may change slowly, but they will. I pray for your peace.