I hope that KD doesn't mind if I jump in and comment here. Kimmy, thanks for sharing about your journey, and your insights into our individual journeys. It truly is okay that our paths and experiences and beliefs are different. Sometimes our goals are different too, but I think that they often are not as different as it may seem. Sometimes we do all want the same things. Don't we all want to be loved, and to be happy?

Sometimes I think that someone takes offense just because of who says something. We are all responsible for our own feelings, and if we find ourselves getting defensive when we see a certain member's name, we ought to ask ourselves if we may be jumping to conclusions without hearing the message. I appreciate Abby's understanding and ability to understand that Sky simply wished love and happiness for everyone.

When we believe in something strongly, and have felt that it is good, we often want to share that with people we care about it. This reminds me of a story in the Book of Mormon that I would like to share.

Lehi was a prophet who was commanded to lead his family out of Jerusalem, because Jerusalem was headed for destruction. Some of Lehi's family believed him, but Lehi had two sons, Laman and Lemuel, who wanted to stay in Jerusalem where the family had a successful business and were wealthy. They didn't believe in their father's words, and didn't want what their father wanted.

Lehi had a dream in which there was a tree with the sweetest fruit he had ever tasted. The fruit represented the love of God, and it brought Lehi so much joy that he wanted to share it with his family. When he beckoned to them, his wife and two of his sons came and tasted the fruit. But Laman and Lemuel refused, and Lehi was afraid for them. He told the dream to his family, and preached to Laman and Lemuel because he loved his sons and wanted to share that joy with them.

You can read this story here: http://scriptures.lds.org/en/1_ne/8

When we experience something that brings us so much joy, it is natural to want to share it with others that we care about. We are sad for them if they reject it, especially without trying it. Lehi's two sons were on a different path, and one that Lehi knew would not bring them happiness. I'm not condemning anyone here, just trying to explain what it feels like to want to share something like that, out of love, when feelings are strong and some of the people we care about don't want to hear the message. I think that I can understand how Lehi felt, and also can understand how Laman and Lemuel felt with their father trying desperately to preach to them something that they didn't want to hear. Maybe if Lehi had been able to lighten up and recognize how his sons felt, the story would have had a happier ending than it does.

Rap