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Back in verse 3 the Lord reminded Joseph of the covenant he made not to show the gold plates to anyone except those whom the Lord designated. Here the Lord says there are 3 witnesses whose testimonies will go forth with the text of the Book of Mormon. You can read about their experience here. In addition to these 3 witnesses, there were another 8 chosen to see the plates and their experience is recorded here.

I don't know if it's a perk, but I would say that they are given more responsibility toward others. "Feed my sheep, feed my lambs." The other thing that comes to mind is that they have a deeper understanding of God and His mysteries. Those are my initial thoughts. It's an interesting question, though, I'll have to think about it some more.

I'm not offended! I have to occasionally check my desire to say just one more thing, long after everyone else is done. Also, this:

I believe that sometimes to realize the perks that such things can be seen better when realizing the contrast or what is lost by refusing righteousness. Anciently the term righteousness did not necessarily mean an honest citizen - it was a reference and an identification of someone that has entered into a covenant with G-d. The contrast is someone that enters into a covenant with Satan. Sometimes we like to think of this as a binary condition - that it is either one or the other but with some simple logic we can realize that there is another condition and that is the option of neither or pre-choice or the state of innocence before we establish or make a covenant. For the sake of understanding and the time to explain everything - I will proceed with a shortened version. What does it mean to be favored of G-d - or to have covenant with G-d? There are three basic elements or promises that G-d gives with his covenants: #1. Is a Promised Land. Most people think of this as a place on earth that is our's to have and to keep. But there is much more than that. It is also freedom and liberty. Often we think of such things in a political setting but it needs to be understood to mean that we can exercise Agency and be responsible. It means that we are not forced into a state of bondage where the fruits of our labors are not ours to determine. We can serve others without being compelled or forced. We can live free by the delight of our agency and choice. There is much much more that could be said about this perk but I will leave the rest as an exercise for the reader. #2. Is protection and deliverance from our enemies. Having a Promised Land is not so great if someone can come in and take it away from you. G-d premises that if we loose our promised land (our freedom and liberty) that he will hear our pleas and come to our rescue and deliver us. There are both physical and spiritual perks with this particular promise and perk. Some to be realized in this life but most importantly deliverance from our arch enemies of death and hell. #3. Is an enduring seed. Mostly this is thought of as having a good marriage and lots of children, grandchildren and so on and so on for generations and generations. Of course we all would like to see this particular promise fulfilled in this life. But the real promise is for eternity or after this life. This life being but a type and shadow of what is to come. I realize that not everybody is married to their eternal partner in this mortal life - (though a great many are). The promise is that you will become part of the family of Saints and the children of G-d - even in this mortal existence. That the priesthood will be part of your heritage and that you will enjoy the loving family relationship of the Saints of G-d throughout all the dispensations of men. These are the basic perks that can and will include many blessings and additional promises to fulfill the basics. But we must also realize two additional things. Number one additional thing is that we promise to give something to G-d in return for these perks. With many in the religious community; they hear that G-d's perks are free (that we do not earn them) so they do not realize that to covenant with G-d we are under obligation to be loyal to him and obey his commandments. This bring me the a closure and the second very important additional "thing" that we call a trial. It is not enough that we say we covenant - a covenant with G-d demands we are loyal to that covenant through a trial or perhaps more than one. The trial is necessary so that we can fulfill our choice and be responsible and loyal - That we do choose G-d not just in word but in deed also. I thought to go on with the contrast of what happens when we covenant with Satan and succumb to his flattering words and temptations. But alas this post is long enough - though I am willing to discuss openly any issue of infection to our perks of deliverance, healthy freedom, liberty and family (marriage between a man and a woman). The Traveler

Receiving blessings from the Lord. The Holy Ghost can comfort us and any who have received it. Those who have this gift are all favored (in my opinion) and the comforting influence of the Holy Ghost can keep us calm in times when others are panicking or afraid. It can help us weather the storms of life and help us have an easier time with the troubles of life. The Holy Ghost can also teach us the truths of the Gospel. While others wonder about our purposes in life, our purposes in regards to heaven, or why things happen in this life as they do, we can learn for ourselves directly from the Holy Ghost about the plan of salvation and our purposes here.

It is interesting to me that the Book of Mormon open with an ancient Egyptian writing method called a Colophon. I will reference a typical Colophon from the famous Bremer-Rhind Papyrus and I will also note that in Joseph Smith's day ancient Egyptian colophons were not known. This is the format from Bremer-Rhind: 1. The Date 2. The titles and names of the author 3. The name of the author's parents and their virtues. 4. A curse against anyone that attempts to alter the text or to use it for impure purposes. Compare to Nephi's colophon 1. His name 2. The merits of his parents and the divine calling of his father 3. A solemn avowal that the record is true (to be used by those that are pure). I appreciate your reference to the slaying of Laban. But again if we become familiar with ancient the covenant with G-d, this will be understood in a whole new light. I was introduced to this understanding by a Muslim friend from the Persian Gulf. He was reading the Book of Mormon while I was reading the Quran. His immediate response was that this proves that Nephi was called of G-d. I studied this in greater detail and here is a short summary. Laban was appointed by covenant (lineage) to take care of the sacred record of the Jews. Many scholars believed that there was a copy of the Jewish scripture records kept and maintained in the Temple - specifically in the Ark of the Covenant. To remove this sacred record from the temple was not only an infraction of his covenant but a gross sin and an offence towards G-d - which according to ancient covenants was punishable by death. This death covenant was the right and responsibility of the proctor of the covenant. Since Nephi was commanded by G-d through the spirit - this was a sign that Nephi was called of G-d to be the proctor of a new covenant and also through covenant become the rightful heir to oversee and become the "keeper" of the sacred scripture record. Again this is another "sign" that the Book of Mormon is an ancient record and not a modern manufactured counterfeit. I agree with your witness that we must seek the spirit to understand and have a testimony of the Book of Mormon - but folded into the texts of this sacred book are physical signs that testify of its sacred and ancient origin and stand as a warning to those that take it upon themselves to lie (in their own heart to themselves or verbally to others) that it is not authentic and prove against such lies. There are evidences missing concerning the Book of Mormon but in the nearly 200 years since it was first published - There are discoveries and things learned that witness to its truthfulness that stands against those that construct lies in efforts to disprove. I understand that such things are not proof but to the serious seeker of truth - it ought to be evidence enough to ask G-d the Father, in faith in the name of Christ; if this record is a true and sacred witness given to the world in preparation of the return of Christ. The Traveler

Alexander Pope said it well: “Vice is a monster of so frightful mien As to be hated needs but to be seen; Yet seen too oft, familiar with her face, We first endure, then pity, then embrace.” The adversary will slowly lead people along with a flaxen cord; over time getting them numb, and used to hearing about various illicit behaviors. Then, they will one day find that they don't believe that such behavior is necessarily "bad", but normal...it just depends on your "point of view". "If all parties consent to it, regardless of age, then surely it can't be wrong." "Who are you to say that they don't love each-other - that this child doesn't really know what they want?" "They are happy this way. We are all different, and should accept each other for who we really are on the inside." People, including leaders of nations, are already saying these things in isolated cases. Soon it will absolutely become more mainstream, and eventually the norm. Look at what Canada did to this poor father...and the poor child, who is much too young to make such drastic decisions. https://globalnews.ca/news/6399468/bc-gender-change-court/ This same scenario will soon happen here. It will start with mainly child celebrities who have much media and internet attention. Over the years in the spotlight they will identify with different behaviors and movements; and today's youth who idolize them will follow. They will have a sob story about their past and how their new progressive lifestyle makes them happy and free, and the person/people doing it with them are so happy and loving. "So-and-so from such-and-such a TV show cannot be wrong...they are such a good person." "You are bigot for trying to stop them from being themselves, and from doing what makes them happy." It may be coincidence that the whole Epstein saga is going on at the same time, but I doubt it. In the grand scheme of things, this is all a part of the adversary's plan. Prophets have said that the world will be more wicked than it has ever been in it's history before the Lord finally comes again, and the acceptance and even encouragement of pedophilia in all it's forms will definitely be one part of that wickedness. Time is running out to get our homes in order.

Back in the 2000s, my local and stake priesthood leadership were largely of the opinion that the internet was comprised of e-mail, the church website, and porn. If a person wasn't doing e-mail or the church website, they were likely up to no good. Thus, parents needed to be hyper-vigilant and question everything. I was, so near as I can tell, literally the only person in the stake using the internet to talk with people about the church. At the time, merely self-identifying as a member of the church could bring death threats. That's how overtly hostile the internet was to the church, and there were precious few resources we could use to counter this hatred. The church website was barely functional even on a good day, and apologetics websites were few and far between. Those of us who were members had to quickly find each other, band together, and brace for onslaught, as we were on our own. I think you can understand why I have to bite my tongue whenever I see people nowadays going on and on about how great and awesome the internet is and how the Bloggernacle just magically appeared out of nowhere as a symbol of power.

Like all other venues, sincerity and respecting people really matter on the virtual venue too. For recent years, there's been a trend (at least in the USA) that it's easier to talk super private things online, where you have the anonymous and option to leave completely at any point. So a lot of people are actually more comfortable talking faith online rather than having a physical person in their house. COVID has completely ramped that up to the extreme. You can have really good ones: like there's a missionary who serves in my ward whom I've never met who's very active poster, putting out really high quality spiritual and slice-of-life stuff. He posts on his personal page and also the ward page, and I see a lot of it that way and through my ward friends "liking" things. And then you have the lame spammers too.

Our church has around a decade or so worth of efforts to have missionaries be effective online. They've met with limited success, and produced more than a few, call it, less-effective efforts. It's about being genuine, and also being relevant. Miss one, and it doesn't really matter how much the other is working, your efforts will be lacking. A failed experiment from years ago, a stake president somewhere started sending his missionaries here to this forum. They were genuine, but struggled with relevance. They started sending private messages to random posters, would show up in threads about topics with a bunch of "Hi I'm a missionary do you have any questions". We eventually had to ban some of the Lord's annointed because they wouldn't stop violating forum rules. The decision went up to a General Authority if I remember correctly. So yeah, the struggle to be effective online is real.

I am just going to stick with your answers Vort, without editing them and say they are my own. How I understand the sealing is the same as you understand it. Except for the reception question, I have emphasized the statement to show the change. Is Xaviera born in the covenant? ( B ) No, Xaviera is not born in the covenant. Is Yolando born in the covenant? ( A ) Yes, Yolando is born in the covenant of his mother Suzie and Bart, to whom she is sealed. Can little Xaviera be sealed to her parents? ( A ) Of course she can be sealed to her father Bart and to her real, biological mother Therese. She was never sealed to anyone else in the first place. Can baby Yolando be sealed to his parents? ( C ) Of course not; he was born in the covenant of his mother Suzie and her first husband Bart, so another sealing is meaningless. Isn't this kind of like, um, incest or something? ( B ) Hmmm. No, not incest, because they aren't related by blood. Just weird. Who pays for the reception? ( D ) I like the idea of the kids paying for it, however if I have sufficient funds, or the in-laws family has money, we can split some costs to assist the children. If parents are paying for the reception they should accept whatever monetary capability the parents have without an expectation of a $10K reception. How is Wanda introduced by Yolando and Xaviera at Church? ( C ) "Hi, we're Wanda, Xaviera, and Yolando, and we're visiting your ward today."

(I'll get to your case in a minute.) First (this may be obvious, but I think it still needs to be stated), a child BIC is sealed to both parents (as opposed to being sealed specifically to father/mother, and only indirectly to the other through the marriage covenant). I think the idea that the sealing follows the mother (as a rule of thumb) is a good one as it works consistently with plural marriages. I think that in the case where the sealed ex-wife civilly marries a man and they have a child, that child is BIC to the ex's. My reason for thinking this is still the case, even though the covenant is "broken" is because under NT Jesus law, this is adultery (let me explain). Jesus taught that whoever marries a divorced woman is committing adultery because for God there really isn't such a thing as divorce (Elder McConkie says this is a Millenial Law though). So what is the condition of a child conceived via adultery? Say the wife in a sealed couple is unfaithful and has a child, then repents. That child does not have to go to the temple to be sealed to her parents. Although the covenant had been broken at the time of conception and birth, the blessings are still in force to all innocent parties. Interestingly enough, this also gives me the same answer as Vort for both the ex-husband and the ex-wife. If the husband is unfaithful and the other woman is already sealed, from the above case, the child is BIC, but not to him. If the husband is unfaithful and the other woman later marries another man, then that is the sealing offered to the child to be grafted into (since there is no covenant between the unfaithful husband and the other woman for the child to be born under). And finally, if the husband later marries the other woman (either as a widower, or as in the case Vort spells out) then THAT is the case where the child can be grafted into biological Mom and unfaithful husband's sealing (in all cases, the sealing works like a mathematical ray, not line). So now what about excommunication? in that case the covenant is indeed broken. If she returns then all her blessings and sealings are re-instated. So I think for the duration of the child's mortality, she can consider herself BIC to the two ex's (actually, this case doesn't even need divorce), but I think there's some legal aspect lacking in the eternal sense because of the case where the wife does not return. Here we have a mostly unbroken chain from the last child all the way back to Adam (which Brigham Young taught was the purpose of these sealings for children), exept for a spouse-less man and his child. Here D&C 132 comes into play. There's a part that sounds similar to the parable of the talents where he had receives more, while he that squanders loses that which he had. And this concept is applied to wives in the Celestial Kingdom (not in a sexist way, but in a Patriarchal way). This man was faithful in life, and so he shall receive even though he had something of a Prodigal Wife. Similarly, there's doubtlessly a faithful woman whose husband broke the covenant and leaves her alone in the eternities with her children who were born into a broken covenant. Now that we've reached the deep end let's dive. Here I'm immersed in speculation. At some point before the faithful husband and the future wife (remember this is different from the ex'd one) are resurrected, they have to be sealed to each other. I support the teaching of Joseph Fielding Smith that there will probably be open revelation during the Millenium to help us get this right. This not only includes the case of a wife (or husband) getting ex'd, but for any spouse that does not live up to covenants. Then, another ordinance has to be performed to graft the children into this covenant, since they are not born into a general marriage covenant (because then the cheating father's children in the earlier cases would automatically be BIC without any addiitonal work). And let's just add one more case to this. Let's say there's children who parents have both broken the covenant. For whatever reason, they are to be grafted into Brigham's family. Before the work can be done, the saints would have to know which wife to seal them to as well. I say, let the dead work that out, and then reveal it to the living.

During this time period, Suzie also remarries in a civil ceremony. She and her husband Charlie welcome a new baby, Yolando. QUESTION 2: Is Yolando born in the covenant? Yes, Yolando is born in the covenant of his mother Suzie and Bart, to whom she is sealed.No, Yolando is not born in the covenant.My response to this is A. My understanding is that as long as this couple are still sealed, any children born to them even with another spouse are covered under their sealing.

Brother Bart is sealed to Sister Suzie in the temple. Tragically, they divorce some time later, but do not get their sealing dissolved at that time. Bart then marries Therese in a civil ceremony, and together they produce little Xaviera. QUESTION 1: Is Xaviera born in the covenant? Yes, Xaviera is born in the covenant of her father Bart and Suzie, to whom he is sealed.No, Xaviera is not born in the covenant.NO NOT BORN IN COVENANT BECAUSE PARENTS ARE MARRIED CIVILLY--NOT SEALED.During this time period, Suzie also remarries in a civil ceremony. She and her husband Charlie welcome a new baby, Yolando. QUESTION 2: Is Yolando born in the covenant? Yes, Yolando is born in the covenant of his mother Suzie and Bart, to whom she is sealed.No, Yolando is not born in the covenant.YES, BORN IN THE COVENANT. SUZIE IS STILL CONSIDERED SEALED--JUST LIKE A WIDOW. A WIDOW WHEN REMARRYING CIVILLY IS STILL CONSIDERED SEALED TO HER DECEASED HUSBAND. SUBSEQUENT CHILDREN WOULD BE CONSIDERED SEALED TO HER AND HER FORMER SPOUSE. REMEMBER IN GENESIS HOW JUDAH'S WIDOWED DAUGHTER-IN-LAW TAMAR WAS PROMISED TO HIS YOUNGER SON "TO RAISE UP SEED TO THY BROTHER". NOW, IF SUSIE HAD BEEN EXCOMMUNICATED THEN THE CHILDREN WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED BORN IN THE COVENANT BECAUSE THE SEALING WOULD HAVE BEEN REVOKED. BUT SHE WAS NOT EXCOMMUNICATED SO SEALING IS STILL INTACT AND HER SUBSEQUENT CHILDREN ARE CONSIDERED BIC. THE MAN WHO REMARRIES CIVILLY IS NOT AFFORDED THIS SAME PROTECTION OF SUBSEQUENT CHILDREN BIC--EVEN IF HE WAS WIDOWED--BUT HE HAS THE OPTION OF BEING SEALED TO MORE THAN ONE WIFE AT A TIME. THE WOMAN DOES NOT HAVE THAT OPTION.After some time, Bart and Therese are sealed. Suzie has her sealing to Bart cancelled, and then she is sealed to Charlie. QUESTION 3: Can little Xaviera be sealed to her parents? Of course she can be sealed to her father Bart and to her real, biological mother Therese. She was never sealed to anyone else in the first place.Of course she can be sealed to her father Bart and to her real, biological mother Therese. Her sealing to Bart and Suzie is of no effect, since the sealing between them no longer exists.Of course not; she was born in the covenant of her father Bart and his first wife Suzie, so another sealing is meaningless.YES, SHE CAN BE SEALED TO HER BIOLOGICAL PARENTS BECAUSE SHE WAS NOT BIC.QUESTION 4: Can baby Yolando be sealed to his parents? Of course he can be sealed to his real, biological father Charlie and to his mother Suzie. He was never sealed to anyone else in the first place.Of course he can be sealed to his real, biological father Charlie and to his mother Suzie. His sealing to Bart and Suzie is of no effect, since the sealing between them no longer exists.Of course not; he was born in the covenant of his mother Suzie and her first husband Bart, so another sealing is meaningless.NO SEALING IS NECESSARY BECAUSE CHILD WAS BIC.Yolando and Xaviera grow up, meet, and against all odds fall in love and are married. QUESTION 5: Isn't this kind of like, um, incest or something? This is totally just wrong.Hmmm. No, not incest, because they aren't related by blood. Just weird.Oooh, yuck, I can't think about this!NO PROBLEM. NO BLOOD RELATIONSHIP. JUST AWKWARD BETWEEN PARENTS.QUESTION 6: Who pays for the reception? Bride's parents.Groom's parents.They split the cost.Let the darn kids pay for it themselves.ANY OR ALL OF THE ABOVE.Bart and Suzie's long-lost daughter Wanda comes back one day. QUESTION 7: How is she introduced by Yolando and Xaviera at Church? "This is my sister and, um, Yolando's sister, too"?"Xaviera and I have a sister in common, and, well, here she is.""Hi, we're Wanda, Xaviera, and Yolando, and we're visiting your ward today."HI, WE'RE WANDA, XAVIERA, AND YOLANDO...EVEN THOUGH TECHNICALLY WANDA WOULD BE THEIR HALF-SISTER.

I'm sorry you're stuck with all the mediocre minds.

Is this like the opposite of Youtube comments where people try to be the first comment by just saying "First!"? Last!

Challenge accepted.

You will not be the last word in this thread.

Signed them all. Sadly, I don't think it will make an impact at all to be honest. I compare this to the porn industry...you have tens of thousands of "actors" and "models" in our country getting paid for what they do, not to mention those who are on film crews, photographers, editors, publishers, etc... Yet all of it is available free of charge online. Almost no one really pays for a subscription to a website or magazine anymore...so where does the money come from? Yes, they make some money doing advertisements I suppose, but that isn't really enough if you look at all of their overhead costs. It isn't about making money - it is about the message. I bet many folks would be surprised if they truly knew where money was coming from for some of these garbage industries. One CEO of a porn company also owns several "Christian based" businesses. Many others are child companies of broadcasting networks owned by large corporations that partner with many well known media networks. The adversary has all of the money he needs, and he can get it where he wants it to be fairly easily. He is an expert money launderer. Netflix will simply continue to push their agenda and will be able to remain in business even if many cancel them...their money to continue on will come from other sources that are connected to them.