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You can perhaps see why some Mormons are so intrigued by this notion of Messiah bin Yosef; because at least superficially Joseph Smith can be argued to fit his bill rather nicely - a descendant of the Biblical Joseph (and a literal son of a father named Joseph), who prepares the way of the Messiah by initiating a "gathering" of Israel and marshals the spiritual (though not military) forces of righteousness against "Idumea" (Edom), or "the world" (D&C 1:36); and dies violently leaving a grieving people. Now, I'm not saying this should be convincing to a Jew. But Mormons are going to find this very interesting indeed.

On a side note, I do find myself frequently praying for Muslims. Not praying that they will change, necessarily, but that those inclined to violence will be healed of this line of thinking. I pray for the peace of Jerusalem and Christians as well. It is always a simple prayer of healing. If you recall in the book of Numbers, Miriam was kvetching about Moses choosing Zipporah for a wife. She wasn't a Jew, after all, and Miriam was not well pleased with her brother's "foolishness." G-d, in turn, wasn't please with her, and she was struck with leprosy. At that point, Moses, who was NOT known for brevity, prayed a simple and eloquent prayer on behalf of his sister: "El, na r'fa na lah." "And Moses cried unto the L-RD, saying: 'Heal her now, O G-d, I beseech Thee.'" - Numbers 12:13 Simple. Replete with sincerity. The way, I believe, many of our prayers should be.

I just wanted to say thank you to everyone who responded, both for your advice and the caring you have shown me. You have all given me good things to consider and I feel this is a safe place to work out some of my concerns. I am getting past the shock and grief of my husband's decision and am now functioning a little better. I am working hard on being a better wife and more in tune with the Spirit. And realizing that whether or not he goes through with the divorce, Christ can still make me whole and I will be the better for staying true to my covenants and trying to be loving and as Christlike as possible. This is the most trying and painful experience I have ever imagined I would have to go through, but as President Hinckley said, everything will work out. This week I have been trying to find ways to serve my husband and show him love, and I have been blessed with more peace and at least some positive interactions with my husband. Many, many times this week I have had to stop myself from desperately begging him to change his mind and take me back. I know that is not the way to fix this. I am working on being more emotionally strong and relying on the Lord instead of on my husband. We are supposed to have a talk tonight. I know he just wants to talk about logistics of getting the house ready to sell and preparing for the divorce (we're doing this on a weekly basis). Whenever I bring up that this is not what I want, he shuts down. I'm struggling with what to say to him in my very limited time I still have a chance to talk to him.

My son has a t-shirt that says: Civilizations, nations and empires that have tried to destroy the Jewish People: NATION STATUS Ancient Egypt X - GONE Philistines X - GONE Assyrian Empire X - GONE Babylonian Empire X - GONE Persian Empire X - GONE Greek Empire X - GONE Roman Empire X - GONE Byzantine Empire X - GONE Crusaders X - GONE Spanish Empire X - GONE Nazi Germany X - GONE Soviet Union X - GONE Iran ??? The Jewish People The smallest of nations, but with a Friend in the highest of places! So...BE NICE!

That is an excellent question. I believe that one cannot stay true to the tenants of Islam and remain on "friendly" terms forever with those not of that faith. It simply cannot be contrived within the narrative of their belief system.

That is nice of you. I feel more like a coal mine. Why are there no modern Jewish prophets? I wish I knew. I'm glad I'm patient. Moses was slow. Moses plead on behalf of the Jewish people (after the whole golden calf ordeal) for forty days and forty nights. Perhaps we are not ready. Perhaps we have not prayed with great enough fervor. We are, by nature, a stubborn people. We were in captivity in Egypt for so very long, and, after we were delivered and after a brief Thanksgiving Day Parade, what did we do? Complain. About manna. And pretty much everything else we could think of. It isn't enough for someone to tell us to turn to G-d because we are suffering. We need to have it proven to us that we are, in fact, actually suffering. Q) How many Jewish grandmothers does it take to change a lightbulb? A) Never mind, I'll just sit here in the dark.

1) With regard to the Second Temple, the Talmud indicates that Zechariah, Haggai, and Malachi were directly supervising the construction. It has not been implicitly stated who will supervise the construction of the Third Temple, on that it will require similar prophetic oversee. I (as well as others) believe this to be the Messiah. It could be someone else. There is no one currently living that we could consider a prophet in the biblical sense. 2) Ani Maamin B'emunah Sh'leimahk B'viyat Hamashiach. V'af al pi sheyitmahmehah im kol zeh achake lo b'chol yom sheyavo. "I firmly believe with complete faith in the coming of the Messiah, and even though he tarries (or has yet to arrive), with all that, I (longingly) await his arrival with each day." This is Orthodox teaching. When will he come? Back to the flavors of Judaism. Hasidic Jews...I will extend that to less Orthodox, but still Orthodox, Jews also...believe that he will come at any possible moment. Immediately. On Fox News tomorrow morning, kind of a thing. I am a Conservative Jew, and as such, I tend to migrate toward our Statement of Principles, which says, in part: "Since no one can say for certain what will happen in the Messianic era, each of us is free to fashion personal speculation. Some of us accept these speculations are literally true, while others understand them as elaborate metaphors. For the world community, we dream of an age when warefare will be abolished, when justice and compassion will be axioms of all, as it is said in Isaiah 11: "...the land shall be filled with the knowledge of the L-rd as the waters cover the sea." For our people, we dream of the ingathering of all Jews to Zion where we can again be masters of our own destiny and express our distinctive genius in every area of our national life. We affirm Isaiah's prophecy that, "...Torah shall come forth from Zion, the word of the L-rd out of Jerusalem." MOST Reform Jews that I have met and with whom I have discussed the Messianic Age, argue that there will be no Messiah in actuality. They view the Messianic Age as a kind of happy, inclusive utopia. I am not as familiar with their (or Reconstructionist) views other than that. To further complicate matters, it is widely believed that there will be not one, but TWO Messiahs. Mashiach ben David (Messiah, son of David) and Mashiach ben Yosef (Messiah, son of Joseph). He will be of the line of King David and will institute a season of peace.

Excellent, just what I was wanting to know. A couple questions: 1) You said, "Talmudic writing suggests that the temple can only be constructed under direct prophetic guidance, just as the Second Temple was." Tell me more about this prophet. Is this the Messiah? Or can it be someone else? Is there anyone now you would call a prophet? 2) You said, "We cannot build it before the coming of the Mashiach (Messiah) as we understand him." What is the Jewish understanding of when this Messiah will come? Many Mormons and other Christians think Jesus, our "seconding coming of the first Messiah" will come soon. Do Jews think the coming of their first Messiah is also coming soon? Of course, "soon" in God's time often seems like a long time to me

Ask the Muslims. *sigh* But seriously, the answer depends upon to whom you ask the question. (Always my answer, right?) Generally speaking, certain things are preventing the building of the Third Temple (if the temple in Ezekiel is the one to which you refer), or Beit haMikdash haShlishi. We cannot build it before the coming of the Mashiach (Messiah) as we understand him. Only G-d can make the time known for this. I personally do not see an issue with the Muslim occupation of what we believe to be rightfully ours. HaShem will take care of it in His own way. I wouldn't want to be Muslim when that happens. Some notable scholars argue that the Dome of the Rock is not the actual location of either the First or Second temple, but I personally do not lend credence to any of their arguments, and I have read them thoroughly. Again, I am not a scholar by any stretch, but I do read carefully and have not found myself convinced in any meaningful way. (To the Mods...I apologize - mostly sincerely - for disparaging another faith, but I can tell you that I am writing with careful restraint. There is SO MUCH MORE I could say with regards to Muslims and their claims, but I will try to remain amiable. Even typing it makes me angry.) Several organizations (actually, quite a few, although only a few of them get any real attention) have contrived ways to bring to pass the construction of the Third Temple now. I find their ideas intriguing, but I tend to proceed with caution. I think without G-d's direction, any such attempt would be doomed to failure before it even begins. It may well be that the Mashiach will direct the building at a different site entirely within Jerusalem. Even if the Dome of the Rock suddenly vanished tomorrow, it would still be practically impossible to begin construction, IMO. Talmudic writing suggests that the temple can only be constructed under direct prophetic guidance, just as the Second Temple was. Having said all of this, I cannot stress the importance of the building of the temple to us. It is of utmost importance, and no one has a hope of stopping it from happening when G-d gives the green light.

We do disagree here... John was clearly foreordained to baptize Christ. He clearly had the authority, just as clearly as he felt humbled and unworthy of such a responsibility.. Having the authority to act and being humble and knowing your own limits are not mutually exclusive traits.

Because accepting the primacy of the Schoolmaster, and recognizing that He has saved us from something very terrible, does not exempt us from actually going to school. Bowing and confessing Jesus Christ isn't enough--we have to love Him. Developing and refining that love can be a lifetime pursuit. Jesus said the two great commandments are loving God, and loving other people. Mormonism gives these commandments new dimension, by promising the possibility of someday sitting in council with God Himself, wielding the kind of power He wields, and joining Him in His work of creating humans and laboring for their salvation. Church attendance and temple rites give us opportunities to learn and increase and refine and test the love, for God and others, that God wants us to have. If we know that He wants us to do these things, and we fail to do them; then that failure is essentially an act of rebellion that undermines our love for God and suggests we cannot be trusted with the kind of stewardship we hope one day to hold. We still wind up with a reward, for He loves us eternally--but it won't be the sort of reward we could have had.

According to Nibley, assuming I understood him correctly, the pre-Dome of the Rock temple perched atop a steep path. (This was supposed to have been flattened out to accomodate the present massive Islamic structure.) Climbing this path was no mean feat, especially for the aged. To assist them, a handrail of sorts was installed, by which they could hold on and pull themselves up to the temple. This handrail was a rod -- specifically, an iron rod. Interesting if true, and very meaningful to Lehi's vision.

OK, this question is straying into politics, which I am trying to generally avoid. But -- Of course Muslims and Jews have a lot of trouble now getting along, based on what I read in the news. What would it take for them to ever be reconciled? Perhaps a lot of Jews and Muslims might not be able to imagine this ever happening. But what would it take? I like to idealistically believe than any conflict can be resolved. Certainly, the world would be a safer and more peaceful place if tensions in the Middle East went away. I also understand that this is an emotional and frustrating question for many Jews and Muslims. I apologize if this question causes distress or offense. I guess for fairness we could hope both Jews and Muslims might drop by to give their thoughts on this...

I have had multiple people who are close to me who have dealt with or are dealing with major depression, and it's been a very difficult things for me to know how to support them and understand it. It's difficult to make sense of it. It's absolutely crazy, the way they think, the things they do. Crazy to me, but it's their reality and what they feel and believe. I remember back in 2012 searching on LDS.org for something, anything about crisis and depression, to help me have a better understanding of this illness from a gospel perspective. And there wasn't anything. Nothing helped. The best information I got from it was from non-Church resources and that helped me to have a much greater understanding and compassion for what they're going through. I knew that this was a illness that you can't snap out of someone, and while in it, it's incredibly difficult for the person to seek help and get help for it. Depression is a real thing. A real scary illness that needs real professional help to cure. And there truly isn't anything anyone else can do but try to be supporting and understanding. You can't fix something you didn't break. So, as I'm trying to understand this better, I find myself with my family, including my parents and my husbands parents (my father-in-law had not been active in the Church since 1978) lucky enough to be sitting in the Conference Center for the Saturday session of October Conference 2013. It was the first time I had actually "been" to Conference and this was such a special event to be able to be there with everyone. And guess who gets up, yes, Elder Holland. I felt like we had won the lottery of all Conference tickets. I didn't know this was his session to speak, and I was so excited. And then he starts to speak on the very subject that had been overwhelming my life for the past two years. And I felt like he was speaking right to me, right to those who were with me. I had overwhelming feeling, stronger than I had at any point in my life, Heavenly Father does really know me and cares about what I'm going through. No one may understand this craziness that I don't even know how to explain, but he does. He knows I needed this. He knows so many of us need this talk right now. Flash forward to today, and so many things are better. So many things have been fixed. There are still some things that are broken, but I feel confident they can get better. I feel like no matter what comes up, I can get through it. I feel happier. I feel happier knowing that I am the one who decides whether I'm happy or not, and I can be happy no matter what situation I'm in, because I choose to be happy. Any my father-in-law? He called us recently to let us know he was called as Executive Secretary in the Bishopric. He is planning on going through the temple soon for the first time and wants us to be there for it.

That's not how I read the Bible. We find this in John 4:1~3: In Whose name did they baptize, if not in Jesus'? Lehi

We all can call on God whenever we want. The fact that He also has a servants to help us does not stop that. Trying to set the two ideas against each other is a false dichotomy.

God does not change: He has alway cried people unto repentance and to come to Him.

Trip Lehi

I have heard this hundreds of times. No one who espouses this theory has ever come up with a scriptural basis for it. The Bible, again and again, points to the Church as the "tool" Christ uses to bring His people to Him, and to administer the ordinances of salvation. Is baptism salvific? Lehi

Still here. Still wandering. Still in awe of G-d's majesty. Still learning. Still complaining. "Let me tell you something that we (Jews) have against Moses. He took us forty years through the desert in order to bring us to the one spot in the Middle East that has no oil." -Golda Mier Just sayin'.

Fascinating. So a fluke of names. This explains @Just_A_Guy's reply referencing Joseph Smith. The prophecies outlined in your post are fascinating. There are so many parallels with prophecies believed by Mormons. @tesuji is right - you're a gold mine (not a coal mine, definitely gold).

I like that list. Sanders should take heed too Reminds me of: Nietzsche, 1882: "God is Dead."God, 2016: "Nietzsche is dead."

Indeed, we do. "Heal us, O L-RD, and we shall be healed."

I was sitting here considering why I get upset with this topic. I suppose it has to do with a history of persecution. Granted, we have consistently ignored G-d's clear warnings on many occasions, leading to our suffering. BUT, when major world leaders, who subscribe to Islam, call publically for the destruction of ALL Jews (and, I might add, Christians), it tends to get under my skin just a bit. Color me silly, but it does. So...this leads me to ask: Do these Muslim leaders a) not know their religion, b) know their religion very well and believe that their comments are supported by scripture, or c) lie? Perhaps they don't really mean what they've said. The point is this: When it comes to protecting my freedom, my family, my faith, myself, and my beloved Christian friends, I cannot help but take such comments personally and seriously.

I love that prayer - "Heal her now." We all need healing, I think. After I learn enough Hebrew, I'm going to memorize that and use it all the time.

“The New Testament clearly teaches the need for divine authority. Jesus ordained the Twelve Apostles (John 15:16), gave them the keys of the kingdom of God (Matthew 16:18-19; 18:18), and empowered his servants to perform miracles and take the gospel to all nation (Matthew 10:1, 5-8; 28:19-20). Later, after the Lord’s death, the apostles commissioned others to serve in the ministry (Acts 6:1-6; 13:1-3; 14:23; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6; Titus 1:5) and to ensure that the saving ordinances or sacraments were performed only by those properly ordained (Acts 19:1-6, 13-16). This authority was a power that no one could assume, take upon himself, or purchase; it came only through the laying on of hands by those holding proper authority (Acts 8:18-20; Hebrews 5:4).” –Robert Millet (from Getting at the Truth, chapter 8, question 4)

So is it possible or expected there could be modern Jewish prophets? Besides the two Messiahs? Why are there no modern Jewish prophets? Thanks for all your info. You are gold mine of info, and I'm very curious

Muslims are quick to point out that the Quran implicitly states that taking the life of one innocent person would be the same as murdering all of humanity. True, it does say this. What they fail to share is that they do not consider them to be innocent. Therefore, it isn't murder. Are all Muslims bad people? Clearly not. Is the potential for violence inherent in their deeply held creeds? I believe so. Those that say that radical Muslims distort the teachings of their scripture have not, in my opinion, carefully read said scripture. If they did so, they would either correct their beliefs or lean toward violent enforcement of those beliefs. I believe that many of them are peaceful and loving. I do not believe that their faith is.

Very interesting. Thank you. About prophets - When was the last Jewish prophet? Why are there no current modern Jewish prophets (or are there?). Full disclosure: Mormons talk a lot about the importance of our own current, modern prophets. But I'm not asking you these things in a "gotcha - Mormons have the better religion!" kind of way. I just want to understand how Jews think about this. Obviously, there used to be prophets in the past - so what about now?

No university with a farm near you? The local one has classes in both raising and butchering, so it's fairly cheap to get an animal at any stage from birth to completely disassembled. Guessing they prefer live food, but if they'll take fresh dead, feral hog piglets and rabbits can be plentiful in certain farm areas. Live trapping them costs more, though. Or if you can manage proper obedience training, you could just rent it out to farmers and let it find its own food.

I can come by rats. The problem is once you get to the adult rabbit, adult chicken, baby pig sizes that it becomes a problem. When we lived in Utah, we had large Burmese pythons, our largest was about 16'. We would go to to local animal control station and get rabbits, guinea pigs, etc. all the time. The employees all knew what it was for and were glad the animals were put to good use instead of simply being euthanized and discarded.

It's up to you, of course, but one wonders "Why?" Their activities serve one purpose above all the others: to keep them from making the links with their family. Those links take time and shared activities, not different ones, activities that the whole family, not one or two, participate in. Soccer, gymnastics (I've seen families go completely inactive because a daughter needed them to attend her meets), baseball, karate, and on and on, do not usually build family connections. If you're too busy, and that seems to be the issue, stop doing things that aren't moving you towards your goals (which I feel reasonably safe in assuming include family unity and strength). My mother died while I was on my mission. When I came home 18 months later, I listened to her funeral on a tape deck (sorta like a DVD player, only different). One story our bishop recounted was when he went to visit her one afternoon and found her "just enjoying [my little sister]". Rrrr is my sixth sibling. I understood exactly what he meant because my mother enjoyed all seven of us, each in a different way. I think it was because she spent so much time with us. We didn't have a million things to do: we worked together, we played together, we read, studied, and fooled around together. My father sent me a letter the week after Mom died. In it he told me how he'd taken each of my brothers and sisters in to see Mom, but she didn't seem to recognize one of them, so he took him back in. She smiled (about all she could do by then), and died within a few minutes. Her last words, spoken two or three days before, we "Don't let him [me] come home." She had her priorities in order. I look around and see hundreds of mothers who express the same things you have said here. And, to a woman, they all have too much to do, and a lot of that includes things that are not important in the eternal scheme. I'm not sure they're important in a temporal scheme, either. So, my free advice (and worth everything it costs you) is to "just enjoy your little ones — they won't be little for long. And then they'll marry and be gone." Lehi

Seems legit. http://www.killingmycareer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Shrink-Wrapped-Jesus-Signed-Bible-final.jpg

Just forgive him without making anything good come from it, it will help you put the past relationship into perspective.

Ironhold In this current political and socio climate I am going to say it may well NOT be a dead bang winner. dc

Rat shortage in your neighborhood? They're not too picky and will eat stray yap dogs too.

Aaaah, got it. (The only MMO I know is the Maintenance & Metrology Operations department.)

Over the course of my life I've owned many exotic animals... mostly of the reptilian or arachnid/arthropod variety. As I grow older I find that I want to "own" animals less and less and just observe them more and more. As a kid I used to collect EVERYTHING... bring it home and keep it. Even some of my adult years have had these phases of wanting to own or posses.... but for the most part I've been moving more and more away from that. These days I get a much bigger thrill at being able to observe an animal in it's natural habitat and get a few snapshots of it. Admittedly, I still love to hold and capture animals, (again, mostly reptiles and arthropods) and pose them for photos before releasing them. Perhaps I'm moving toward a time when all I will take will be "in situ" photos... completely hands-off. I guess only time will tell.

"Scientists have analyzed the statements that astronauts have made when they see Earth from above, and landed on a common, powerful theme: a sense of awe and transcendence." http://www.sciencenewsline.com/news/2016041915010037.html I wonder if this is what Abraham and Moses felt! http://publications.mi.byu.edu/fullscreen/?pub=1123&index=15 “Here is an interesting description from the Apocalypse of Abraham. Abraham is taken on a wonderful journey (just as much science fiction begins with the wonderful journey). The whole field of testamentary literature and testaments has seen many discoveries recently, and we learn that any prophet you can name, and any apostle, has a testament; and that testament always ends with a great trip, a guided tour through the universe. The prophet or apostle usually gets in a vessel of some sort, in which he travels around, inspecting things). Guided by an angel, Abraham passes with violent winds to heaven above the firmament. He sees an indescribably mighty light, and within the light there is a vast, seething fire; and within the fire is a great host of moving, changing forms—moving within each other—of mighty forms that exchange with each other and constantly change their forms, as they go and come and alter themselves. They seem to call out to each other, in strange, confused noises.” -- Apocalypse of Abraham 15:3-7, in OTP 1:696. Or Joseph Smith: “I looked upon the sun the glorious luminary of the earth and also the moon rolling in their magesty through the heavens and also the stars shining in their courses and the earth also upon which I stood and the beast of the field and the fowls of heaven and the fish of the waters and also man walking forth upon the face of the earth in magesty and in the strength of beauty whose power and intiligence in governing the things . . . are so exceding great and marvilous even in the likeness of him who created <them>.” -- Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, 5

"OMG" = "Oh my goodness". FTR.

As a side note, one of my previous employer's major clients had been on the losing end of a fairly expensive religious discrimination lawsuit. The slightest hint of truly justified offense regarding religion would get what some of us referred to as "the HR SWAT team" on the move. I ended up coming in one day with a pile of JW stuff due to apparently looking the least threatening of the folks at the bus stop. I dropped it on the table in our contractor area intending to carry it to the big trash can later after checking for coupons. (I still don't know that much about their beliefs, but now I have confirmed that they don't have half price Sonic coupons in their stuff...can't hurt to check...and yes, I did shake the first BoM handed to me and flip through to check for a discount on Sam's membership or whatever, but all I found in the BoM was the SLC temple night photo pass along card, darn it. The Church marketing department needs to show some real initiative for a change.) Apparently someone saw it, because a couple days later I got the HR secret agent interrogation about what would potentially offend "a person of your faith"...all while very carefully not asking what faith that might be or hinting at what they thought it was. I wish I'd been thinking a little quicker that day, because the entertainment potential would have been through the roof.

I would make the distinction between going to G-d with one's questions of faith as opposed to griping, complaining and murmuring to your fellow man. I believe it takes more faith to truly ask questions and challenge one's faith and understanding than it is to think you know the answer. The Traveler

I would send Pam a message and ask her this one AI. http://lds.net/forums/profile/1959-pam/

We have this bumper sticker:

Part of having friends in school is learning to deal with people in the real world later. Unless you live in the heart of Utah, 98% of the people in the real world have very little in common with the YM/YW. Frankly, it's amusing but sad sometimes to see brand new missionaries from Utah get here, (a mostly Baptist city of ~18,000 plus ~8,000 college students, where the dry cleaners still have "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Easter" bags, the five Jews think that's amusing while the atheists just use Dryel and keep quiet, and virtually every non-government-sponsored meeting of any sort still starts with a prayer, while government ones start with the Pledge of Allegiance - IOW, practically Mayberry compared to a lot of places) and be shocked by the "den of iniquity" that we quite happily live in. Around here, a lot of the churches trade off on their summer, evening and Spring Break activities. It's not that hard for the Methodists to have a faith-based program that the Baptists can't find fault in, and vice versa. The CoC kids ignore the piano and the SDA ones...well, I dunno...maybe they go play with the JWs or something. I even remember a couple of LDS kids coming to the Methodist Vacation Bible School 20...er...maybe 30 something years ago. They didn't burst into flames when they walked in the door, and one of them is still in the ward today, while the other is active elsewhere so obviously the Methodists' much better deviled eggs didn't steal their souls. Sure, the Pentecostal kids still look funny in those groups, but everybody gets along, and everybody gets to meet people outside their faith on a daily basis. It makes for a much easier transition to real life, where we really don't have the option of avoiding the infidels every day.

>> driving belief towards a more traditional understanding? It's NOT that the doctrine of the LDS church is becoming more traditional. The doctrine is the same. What is happening is that more outsiders who thought LDS doctrine was non-traditional are learning for themselves what the doctrine actually is. The Internet has helped with this, as well as the fact that there are many more members. I've talked to hundreds of other Christians and am well aware that most who think they know LDS doctrine have a wrong understanding. For the few that are open to learning, the more they learn the more they realize most basic truths they already know are agreeable with LDS doctrine. Your quote about "we actually believe that too" made me smile because I find myself thinking that often. I sent my two youngest children to a local Baptist preschool. I have no problems with the doctrines taught. Jesus is our Savior and the only way to salvation. The Bible is true. Jesus created the world. We believe all of that. >> The less distinctive, the less necessary. In other words, if LDS teaching becomes almost-traditional then what's the point of the Restoration. Great question. The Restoration was needed to clarify and correct doctrines, but many truths were already around. Think about the non-LDS doctrinal views of baptism. Is baptism even necessary for believers? Does baptism need to be done by immersion? Should infants be baptized? Who can perform the ordinance? There are a variety of differing opinions. The Restoration is a gift from God to clarify truths to the world, including this simple example of baptism. Because of the Restoration, we know who baptism is for, whether it is necessary, and how it is to be done. Additional truths hinted at in the Bible although lost over time were also revealed (such as proxy baptism for the deceased). Although lots of the beautiful truths about baptism (and other doctrines) were already available, the Restoration clarifies and helps increase our understanding. It allows God's children to come in the "unity of the faith" and not be "tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine". (Ephesians 4:13-14). A correct understanding of God and His gospel allows us to develop stronger faith in Him. In addition to restoring and clarifying some truths, we also need living apostles and prophets. If you teach a people truth and then leave them to themselves, they'll get lost over time. Circumstances come up for which inspired guidance is needed. God uses prophets for timely guidance and direction for the whole body of believers. In addition to giving us timely guidance, the Church with a foundation of apostles and prophets with Jesus as its corner stone is God's way of helping his people become holy (Ephesians 2:19-22). Lastly, the Restoration provided more than truths. It also provides ordinances and authority.

I said fight for your marriage, I didn't say fight with your husband. If he won't go for counseling, go alone. If money is an issue the Bishop can use fast offering funds to help. Ask him to come just once to give his side of things. Your efforts to bring the spirit more into your life and into your home are a good thing to do. Ultimately you are fighting Satan who doesn't want either of you to be happy. Fast and pray for a change of heart in him. Do what you can to make sure he feels loved by you. You can't and shouldn't use any kind of force or manipulation, but that doesn't mean you have to just take it without doing what you can.

Thank you. I am trying this!

I agree (obvious, since you agreed with me, first ). There is a reason to worry, however. No matter the outcome, we have to live through the evils 'twixt now and then. It will not be comfortable. It's as I say concerning death: I'm not afraid of "death", but "dying" is another issue. Lehi

I fought major depression my entire life until a little over four years ago. The last nearly eleven years I was suicidal. I was tried on nearly two dozen psychotropic drugs, none of which worked. They didn't do a single thing to help. I went through about a dozen therapists, several of whom were LDS. All they did was to tell me what to do without letting me talk. That didn't work. What did work was finally dealing with my past and talking. I had to deal with years of sexual abuse and rape. I eventually found my wife, who practically had to use a crow bar to force me to talk. Once I started talking, I talked about the same thing over and over again until the memories began losing their power and became less painful. My wife studied psychology for quite a while, so she was able to ask the right questions. I had suppressed many memories, which slowly began to return. The more I talked, the more they returned. It was like I was a little boy all over again each time a new memory popped up. I could vividly remember the abuse, the physical pain, and the terror from each and every time I was forcibly raped and molested. Even as I write this post, my heart is racing and the fear comes back a bit. Many people who deal with depression have some unresolved issue from their past or a current issue that causes them dissonance. Until they deal with those issues, the depression will continue. Some depression is situational and they may need to get out of the situation that is causing the problem. If that isn't possible, then the only way to deal with it is a change of perspective. The one thing that everyone overlooks is the role evil spirits play in depression. While they may not necessarily always cause the depression, they often make it much worse. This is where the priesthood comes in. I have found that whenever my mood changes for the worse for no apparent reason, I need look no further than to the evil spirits causing the trouble. Bishop Edwin D. Woolley, the grandfather of both Elder J. Reuben Clark and Pres. Spencer W. Kimball and personal friend of Pres. Brigham Young. Bishop Woolley gave an interesting talk in general conference. When you're troubled by evil spirits, do as we are taught in the temple ceremony and cast them out and then get a blessing. This isn't a cure all for depression, but it does help.