Im Guo Zhang, and i'm a mormon (frankly don't really care what doctrine to believe, so long as i believe in god and J.C) i've been under alot of stress lately, and just starting as a freshman this year, they made me take a placement test. did badly, and in medicore courses. This prayer, is to god begging him to forgive me for my months of neglect in my spirtual life, and to let me succed in life.

dear heavenly father, i know i've neglected you recently, skiping out on scripture reading, avoiding church, and succumbing to my desires, i apologize, and promise to try to stop this from happening again. I've failed my parents in alot of their expectations, but please, i beg of you, don't let me fail to them academically, i know i didn't do well on the tests so it is only fair you send me to a standard class, but the classes i take now will determine my fate four years from now. If i don't do well and get to honors geometry, instead of a/e adgebra, how can i ever manage to go to a semi-decent colledge like clemson or tufts, let alone hope for ivy league. the decisions i make now determine my future, i know, please give me the strength to study harder, and soften the hearts of my teachers so they will allow me to accelerate. I'm sorry for my sins heavenly father, please forgive me, in the name of our savior jesus christ, amen.

-- Ranny (ranny@something.com), September 02, 2004

Answers

Ranny, I think it's wonderful that you're seeking to give it your best in school and seek to follow God more closely.

Here are some verses that I suggest you memorize to help you remember that your work is for GOD. This will help you to give it your best effort. Anything you do is ultimately not for yourself, your parents, or others. It is in the name of Jesus and in order to serve God more completely with your life.

Colossians 3 (KJV) 17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him....
23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

Do not worry too much about making the best "ivy league" colleges. If you sincerely give it your best and continue to follow God's plan for your life, He will work it out for you. I have had many times when I had to make a morally neutral decision and found it difficult to know it's God's will, but I realized that God leads me where He wants me to go. Take the initiative and pursue your interests, and unless God puts up "roadblocks" in your journey, continue to follow that. He will lead you to where He wants you to be. I can look back now on many decisions that I was unsure about, and see how God had it carefully laid out for my life. Trust Him -- He is wonderful and will not fail you!

Another thing that you should remember is that it pains God to see His children wandering away from Him. However, what He loves even more is when His children return to Him for help and seek to know God again. We know this from Luke 15 (KJV)

1 Then drew near unto him all the publicans and sinners for to hear him.
2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
3 And he spake this parable unto them, saying,
4 What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?
5 And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
6 And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost.
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

Did you catch that last part? Heaven rejoices more over your repentance! God loves you and wants to talk with you again. Read your Bible and pray with him daily, and prayers such as you posted above are just fine.

Continued below...

-- Emily ("jesusfollower7@yahoo.com), September 02, 2004.

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Below are some more stories from Luke 15 (KJV) in which God shows His love to those who are repentant. I hope they will encourage you and inspire you to read more of your Bible every day.

The Lost Coin
8 Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it?
9 And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost.
10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.

The Prodigal Son
11 And he said, A certain man had two sons:
12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.
13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.
14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.
15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine.
16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.
17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.
25 Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard musick and dancing.
26 And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant.
27 And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.
28 And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
29 And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends:
30 But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf.
31 And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
32 It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.

Continued below...

-- Emily ("jesusfollower7@yahoo.com), September 02, 2004.

Now, regarding the Mormon Church to which you belong. I think it's great that you came to this Catholic forum even though you are not a Catholic. I want to encourage you to visit a Catholic mass if you can, and talk with a priest there. He may be able to give you some spiritual guidance in your life.

Some other things you may wish to read are published by a group called Catholic Answers. They have information about the Mormon Church and some of the problems surrounding this organization.

Problems with the Book of Mormon
Distinctive Beliefs of the Mormon Church
The Gods of the Mormon Church
Mormon Stumpers
Mormonism's Baptism for the Dead

Well Ranny, I'm not sure if you were looking for this type of information about Mormons from a Catholic perspective. However, it's here if you wish to read it. The Catholic Answers' site also has many resources and answers common questions about the Catholic faith. I encourage you to check it out. And please feel free to email me if you have any questions.

God bless you!

-- Emily ("jesusfollower7@yahoo.com), September 02, 2004.

From what I have heard, the Morman church does not really have a theology. It has a set of revalations. And lacking any consistancy, they are not bothered by inconsistancy. I may be wrong though.

Sean

-- Sean Cleary (seanearlyaug@hotmail.com), September 02, 2004.