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Showing content with the highest reputation on 07/10/15 in all areas

  1. A few years back a friend of mine came to visit. We had not spoken for years. In those years time we had both changed a lot. She also said i was hardly recognizable, because back then i were a bit of a wild cat, but now i were a mormon - and it had made a noticable difference. She had changed as well, but still had a few of the bad habits that we used to share. So we talked all night long. Being mormon isn't a commen thing here in Denmark, so it is not uncommen that people think of it as some sort of cult. Though people does seem to have become in general a bit more informed. Well, questions came rolling in, and i tried my best to answer them :) and found myself increasingly feeling the spirit as i defended and explained my fondness of my faith, as you do. Much to my surprise i found out that she had felt something too, while talking about it. And for the next months we talked back and forth and within a short time in those months she had begun getting missionary visits. Long story short, because of all of this she stopped her bad habits one by one and then she was babtised after about six months period. You never know what happends in people's heart when they see your passion. And how the holy spirit works with them. It certaintly surprised me.
    4 points
  2. Prayer is a form of instantaneous universe spanning telepathy. If we are to learn all that God knows, and God knows Kung-Fu.... Exaltation basically equals superpowers. What's cool to you about LDS doctrine?
    2 points
  3. Is there really a belief that the reason the Spirit visits the temple is only because it's quiet there? Of course I don't know for sure, but my guess is that this would be offensive to God. Do you have any concept of what an incredible blessing the temple is? You obviously don't or you would never ask/state such a thing.
    2 points
  4. The internet would be such a lonely place if people did this.
    2 points
  5. Pluto is about 4,000,000,000 miles away from Earth. At it's closest approach to Earth Pluto is 2,660,000,000 miles away. A probe is getting very close and taking pictures of the dwarf planet and it's moon, Charon. Take a look at the latest picture: http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/pluto_charon_color_final.png
    1 point
  6. For me, the coolest thing about LDS doctrine is equality. When I say equality, I mean real equality, not the false equality that the media and other secular groups are participating in. In LDS doctrine, which is what I believe to be God's doctrine, everyone who has lived on this earth will have a chance to hear the gospel in their own language, choose to accept or reject it, and receive all the necessary ordinances to obtain the highest level of exaltation. Everyone. We have living prophets that receive revelation that helps everyone in their spiritual well being. Everyone will ultimately be judged by The Advocate, Jesus Christ, who is the only one who has walked this earth that truly knows us. He knows us even better than we know ourselves. He will give a perfectly merciful and perfectly just judgement. Everyone needs to rely on someone else to make it through life and gain eternal life. We cannot do this by ourselves. If we try to save ourselves, we will ultimately perish. This is my most cherished of God's doctrine- We can change. People can change. People do change. If people are willing, they have the opportunity to repent and most importantly, be forgiven. Isaiah Chapter 1: 18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 19 If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land This is true equality, not the so-called equality that is currently being forced upon us by the world. The doctrine of this church has always had equality as it's goal. “Equality is not sameness. It means equal respect for people’s beliefs.” —Dr. Heiner Bielefeldt
    1 point
  7. To outsiders, it appears you have a tight-knit, ready-made community. There is little reason to be stuck at home with nothing to do, if you're in an LDS community--at least that is how it appears. I could see some people find the doctrine of exaltation "cool." Premortality might strike some as interesting--similar to reincarnation, perhaps. The near universalism implied in the doctrine of three heavenly kingdoms would be attractive to many. After all, there is always something to strive for, yet nearly everyone gets some kind of reward. Granted, not everyone would find these "cool"--but there is much for thinking people to be intrigued by. Either that, or PC is a theological dork.
    1 point
  8. Yeah, I'm another stick in the mud here. The only good reason to be a Mormon, is you believe God wants you to be one. Any other reason (including serious ones like 'hold my marriage together' or 'raise my kids right') cheapens the atonement. Sorry. I do wanna be cool too, but not here.
    1 point
  9. pkstpaul

    baptism fears

    I think some of the other sisters tried to address this for you. I think you have personal concerns that go beyond what is 'required' or what others have felt comfortable with. Fact is, you can where whatever you want. If it make you comfortable, where the t-shirt. As the one brother commented, there was a day where you just wore your clothes. The switch to white is more a cultural thing than it is a requirement.The jumpsuits are provided for convenience. Good luck!
    1 point
  10. "Cool" is what is popular with the world. In that sense, LDS doctrine is not cool.It's more anti-cool. (Which is kinda cool.)
    1 point
  11. Happened to be listening to this talk of Elder Packer's today on my morning commute, and the following seemed appropriate given that I believe his funeral will be today:
    1 point
  12. Jane_Doe

    Geneology help

    Download link: http://parowansoftware.com
    1 point
  13. while I addressed the technicality of where one can recieve revelation. I'd like to point out why one would choose to the temple for revelation. Revelation comes from the Spirit, and there are few places that are more spirit filled (if any), or closer to God's kingdom than a temple.... and when you seek help is it not a wise idea to go for as much help as you can get?
    1 point
  14. Milluw

    Advice from Elder Busche

    (I couldn't figure out how to make the link show as a video, sorry!) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snAjZ8mfoYw Have watched this countless times through time. It is such an uplifting message, that i wanted to share it here too. :)
    1 point
  15. JojoBag

    Possession / exorcism

    Let me write a few quotes I've found on this subject.
    1 point
  16. I feel like I have to do this often, though I think that comes with being the only Mormon some of my friends know. It's a very interesting blessing to have, to be sure. I'm looking forward to being able to explain my faith further in the near future to my family. There's much they understand, but still a lot that I could do to help them more.
    1 point
  17. I don't intent to say anything bad about any other church and that includes the Catholic Church. I just didn't find all these "other activities" there, only one hour of church on Sunday, but I in essence left the church nearly 50 years ago in my late teens and never went back. Other than 3 masses in those 50 years. And I saw no change. Tho' I do have to say I think the Pope spoke total garbage about gun manufacturers recently, assuredly so in that he is protected 24/7 by guards armed with guns and it's believed the church is heavily invested in the oldest gun manufacturer in the world (500 years). I certainly don't understand someone who leaves the LDS church and becomes so poisoned of mind to come back and obsessively, post after post, post misconceptions about LDS church and people. How can anyone make themselves so bitter. Well, needlessly so. dc
    1 point
  18. 1 point
  19. Jane_Doe

    Geneology help

    Incorrect. Ancestry can convert PAF's into more modern formats. Directions-- Importing Your PAF to Ancestry. This is how you load your entire PAF into Ancestry: 1. At Ancestry.com, sign-in (it’s in the top-right corner). 2. Click “Family Trees” (up top) 3. Click “Upload a GEDCOM”. Do this even if your data is not in gedcom format. 4. Click “Choose File” and navigate to your file. 5. Name what your want to call your tree, like “Daum Family Tree”. 6. Check the “Let others see this tree” box. This let’s other people see the dead people in your tree. No one else will be able to make any changes to your tree, or see any living people. 7. Decide if you want others to be able to see your tree. 8. Click to accept the Submission Agreement 9. Click “Upload”. Uploading can take several minutes for large files. 10. You’re now good to go! If for some reason you're fundamentally attached to PAF the program, I can dig up the link where you can download it from off line. But I would advise ditching PAF in favor of Ancestry.
    1 point
  20. I'm sorry you were banned! Was your name anatess on their site as well? I go there every now and then, but any threads to do with the LDS are on a separate forum for different religions to have discussions, and although those threads can get heated, I've rarely seen anyone banned (and that includes all different religions chiming in and getting a bit angry). But perhaps I don't go often enough to notice. I'm certainly not a regular here or there. However, I really don't notice a difference between these forums and CAF. I've seen plenty of heated replies from every side and blatant disrespect for others beliefs here as well (I know I've been guilty of some of those things too, so I'm NOT pointing fingers). And just like you may view non-LDS coming to "bash" your beliefs, it happens there as well with non-Catholics coming to "bash" our beliefs (including LDS members who are ex-Catholic). It happens everywhere religion is discussed, no matter the religion, not matter the forum. I'm not trying to say CAF is better, or start a forum argument, I'm just relaying my experiences of both forums. As a Catholic member of this site, I come here to understand my neighbors better, who are predominately LDS. Sometimes I have questions I would like to ask, but it's just too tricky to do face-to-face, so I come here and find answers to my questions from a LDS perspective, I see nothing wrong with that. There have been times I have felt welcome here, and many times I have not, yet I still come every now and then b/c I understand that this is a better place to go for answers to LDS questions, than on a non-LDS site.
    1 point
  21. Just_A_Guy

    Geneology help

    I still have a PAF 5 installer file on my laptop. PM me if you want to work something out. Personally, since the Church arranged for members to have free Ancestry.com profiles, I've just set up a private family tree on Ancestry.com. I actually prefer it to PAF--as long as I have an active internet connection. :)
    1 point
  22. NightSG

    Geneology help

    Try some of the alternatives that can handle PAF files: https://help.familysearch.org/kb/UserGuide/en/nfs/t_nfs_transferring_informaiton_paf_third_party.html
    1 point
  23. BlueSkye, where did you find this 20+ year old talk? I did a search on lds.org to see how often it was referenced (I imagine that would be a pretty good indicator of how foundational this sermon was for us) and only saw links to the talk proper. Compare that with a talk given just 6 years earlier which has really resonated and influenced the saints, and I think you'll see that you're focusing on something that most LDS don't focus on. If you're really want to learn what the modern Church has to say about temporal wealth and the kingdom of God, you can familiarize yourself with the materials on this site (providentliving.og -> family finances). You can start with a resource in the right rail entitled "Temporal Wealth and the Kingdom of God".
    1 point
  24. There is no contradiction if you understand the perspectives of those answering. There are really two questions being answered. Lets break them out Can you judge a persons righteousness based on their material wealth? The answer is "Absolutely not" That judgement is not ours to make and wealth/poverty is not reliable indicator even if we should/could make that call about someone else. Can a righteous person be blessed by God with material wealth? Yes it is possible. Who are we to limit God in any way. God will do whatever he feels is best. But see the above question about trying to make a judgement based on it.
    1 point
  25. not necessarily... but once the avenue for participating in temple duties is available I wouldn't be surprised if there are some revelations that are reserved for attending.
    1 point
  26. My parish has about 400 families. Weekly offerings go towards parish needs. Utilities, ministries, paying our pastors, church upkeep, etc. The diocese does a fund drive every year that supports things that are financed by the diocese, such as schools, seminarians and ministries. There are requests for special offerings, such as visiting charitable ministries that serve around the world in various ways, to support disaster relief, churches in Jerusalem, the ministries of the Vatican, etc. Churches not having tax exempt status I would think affect property more than anything. Even in our small backwater diocese, there is a fair amount of church property, not ony for churches, but schools, food kitchens, relief services, administrative buildings, etc. Some very large dioceses in the US would be hit very hard if they had to pay property tax.
    1 point
  27. JAG, the church I attend is on the small side (roughly 160 in attendance each Sunday). There is a rainy day fund, and we do not often have to make desperate appeals for money. However, monies go to our two paid ministers, and our secretary, to upkeep of the facility, to missionaries we support, to maintaining our food and clothing banks, etc. How losing tax exempt status would effect us, or other church is an open question. The direct hit (property taxes probably) would not be so great. However, sadly, I'm wondering how many would reduce their giving once they realize they could not claim the gifts on their taxes. It should not matter, and maybe it would not. However, most religious organizations have those who are immature, or weak, in their faith. So, again, it's an open question. On the up side, government could no longer intimidate us about political involvement, so the end result might be liberating.
    1 point
  28. Thought this quote from Elder Maxwell is spot on: “Make no mistake about it, brothers and sisters, in the months and years ahead, events are likely to require each member to decide whether or not he will follow the First Presidency. Members will find it more difficult to halt longer between two opinions. (See 1 Kgs. 18:21.) President Marion G. Romney said, many years ago, that he had ‘never hesitated to follow the counsel of the Authorities of the Church even though it crossed my social, professional or political life’ (in Conference Report, Apr. 1941, p. 123). This is a hard doctrine, but it is a particularly vital doctrine in a society which is becoming more wicked. In short, brothers and sisters, not being ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ includes not being ashamed of the prophets of Jesus Christ! We are now entering a time of incredible ironies. Let us cite but one of these ironies which is yet in its subtle stages: We will see a maximum, if indirect, effort made to establish irreligion as the state religion. It is actually a new form of paganism which uses the carefully preserved and cultivated freedoms of western civilization to shrink freedom, even as it rejects the value essence of our rich Judeo-Christian heritage.” “Your discipleship may see the time when such religious convictions are discounted. M. J. Sobran also said, ‘A religious conviction is now a second-class conviction, expected to step deferentially to the back of the secular bus, and not to get uppity about it’ (Human Life Review, Summer 1978, pp. 58–59). This new irreligious imperialism seeks to disallow certain opinions simply because those opinions grow out of religious convictions. Resistance to abortion will be seen as primitive. Concern over the institution of the family will be viewed as untrendy and unenlightened.” “Before the ultimate victory of the forces of righteousness, some skirmishes will be lost. Even in these, however, let us leave a record so that the choices are clear, letting others do as they will in the face of prophetic counsel. There will also be times, happily, when a minor defeat seems probable, but others will step forward, having been rallied to rightness by what we do. We will know the joy, on occasion, of having awakened a slumbering majority of the decent people of all races and creeds which was, till then, unconscious of itself. Jesus said that when the fig trees put forth their leaves, ‘summer is nigh’ (Matt. 24:32). Thus warned that summer is upon us, let us not then complain of the heat!” Elder Neal A. Maxwell
    1 point
  29. Hey everyone! I found this forum just a few days ago. I've always enjoyed online discussions because I love to learn from others' perspectives (easier for me when I can go back and reread what I and others have said). Anyway, I decided I'd see if I could find an lds-based forum to have discussions in more of a gospel context than you usually find online. So one google search later, here I am! Let's see, about me... I'm probably younger than most on this forum. I just finished serving a mission a couple months ago and will be starting college in fall. I grew up as a member. I'm a big reader, and a lifelong fan of the scriptures, as you might have guessed from my avatar. The 'application' part of scripture study has always been a bit more challenging, but I'm trying! I don't claim to know much, but I'll probably put in my two cents here anyway. I'm excited to learn from all of your perspectives and insights! Looking forward to getting to know you all.
    1 point
  30. Lets see what Jesus has said shall we Matthew 23 23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, ahypocrites! for ye pay btithe of mint and canise and cummin, and havedomitted the weightier matters of the law, ejudgment,fmercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. 24 Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow aacamel. 25 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of aextortion and bexcess. 26 Thou blind Pharisee, acleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Huh interesting lets try some more Matthew 4 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, aSatan: for it is written, Thou shalt bworship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. That seems pretty harsh given that he is talking to Peter. Then there is John 8 44 Ye are of your father the adevil, and the blusts of your father ye will do. He was a cmurderer from the beginning, and abode not in the dtruth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a elie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a fliar, and the father of it. And then there is this doozy.. John 2 14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of amoney sitting: 15 And when he had made a ascourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; Can we say owie? So Trumpetguy it seems to me that if you are going to try to Jesus-shame someone you would do well to understand all the bible has to say about the character of Jesus.
    1 point
  31. pam

    Resigning from the Church

    Yes I think he would.
    1 point
  32. Vort

    Resigning from the Church

    You should work very hard not to say blatantly false and defamatory things. As a start, you might consider keeping quiet when you haven't any idea what you're talking about. Just a suggestion.
    1 point
  33. Leah

    Resigning from the Church

    The talk you linked to is being woefully misinterpreted by you. It is a simple talk, with a clear, simple message. The message is either beyond your grasp or you are choosing to misunderstand it because the real message does not fit with your agenda. So much irony in your last paragraph.......
    1 point
  34. Uh, what else would we do with dead people? Drag them out to the curb on bulk trash day after we go through their pockets?
    1 point
  35. Leah

    Resigning from the Church

    There is so much wrong with your post that I hardly know where to start. "LDS view material wealth as a blessing, which indicates righteousness". As others have pointed out, you haven't a clue about this. It is clear that you are ignorant when it comes to actual teachings and beliefs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and have a very negative viewpoint about it. And, yes, that can be true even if someone is an ex-member. Are you open to learning truth about the church or do you prefer to cling to something you latched on to from sources that are also ignorant? Are you here to learn or are you just another in a line of people who come here to tell members of the church how "wrong" we are and how right and superior you are? I am constantly baffled by people who leave the church but can't leave the church alone. Whether it's to rant and rave on ex-Mormon sites or come to forums like this one to proclaim their superiority in having joined a different church. I converted from Judaism. I have zero need or desire to run around to all the Jews telling them how "wrong" they are. Maybe if I were insecure in my new faith? Nope, not even then. As far as being an RCIA instructor automatically making you an expert in everything...or even in anything....I have enough experience with RCIA classes through family members and my own employment at a couple of Catholic institutions to know better. And in the particular instance of your knowledge versus Anatess'....if I were a betting person, my money would be on her.
    1 point
  36. Leaving the Catholic Church seems to attract the same reaction that leaving the "Hood" would. Attacking ones higher value on health or hard work and industry seems counter productive.
    1 point
  37. Is um and ahhhh your middle names?
    1 point
  38. Hi it is very funny that you put a picture of a stuffed big foot. When I was little I saw a plush Bigfoot at a yard sale and it was one of those "I've got to have it" moments. I ran home and emptied out my piggy bank and ran back. I had hidden the plush toy so no one would take it. When I got back the toy was gone and I was upset. Then the lady who owned it came to me and said she took it and put it aside and although I didn't have enough money for it she still let me have it for whatever I had. It was probably like $2 or something I don't remember. I loved it and took the thing wherever I went. I am all grown up now and still have it. I don't take it everywhere anymore, but it still has a special place in my heart. So yeah, when coming up with a name I saw old Ted sitting there in a corner and Stuffedbigfoot it is.
    1 point
  39. I've been lurking here for a bit now, and realized I never introduced myself! I'm Kayvax! I also go by several other names, but Kay and Vaxy work around these parts. I am a 19 year old true-blue born and bred member of the LDS church. I was born in Utah, moved to New Mexico when I was 2, and have lived in Georgia since I turned 10. I love a lot of things. I am a major food-nut, and can basically eat my own tiny weight in delicious foods. Burritos are especially a favorite. I also enjoy all cultural foods I've ever tried (and my asian friends always gave me an accurate taste of what they could make). I also love steak, curry, boba smoothies (no tea of course), noodles, honey, and lamb shanks. I'm currently in school studying Computer Science, with a focus in Computer Hacking. I have done a lot of hacking in my days, sketchy and not, but nothing illegal. I plan on becoming an ethical hacker for businesses to help consult them involving security and protecting their data and the data of their customers. It's a pretty good field these days! For now though, I am a zoo keeper at a small zoo here in Georgia. I manage the reptile house! Snakes are a passion of mine, and I breed Hognose snakes as a hobby (cute little buggers!). I also work at a small robotics company as a programmer and assistant. It's a living! Hobby-wise, I recently took up Warhammer 40k, and love the chaos of it all. I am also an avid gamer, playing everything I can find, but my genres are RPG's, free-roaming games, and survival horror! I also love cartoons, anime, and crime shows. I draw anthropomorphic animals for fun, and represent the people I know as animals (because I could never catch on drawing people!) I'm marrying my wonderful fiance in December, and look forward to an awesome eternity with an incredible and patient man.
    1 point
  40. Thanks for input. I agree, time here is too short for sitting and remembering the bad things in past... remembering the good things keep you going forward! I have a good frend who has to endure tasmanian devils every now and then... :) If you are in Middle Earth..where am I ...Norway?? (overthe edge??)
    1 point