Leaderboard

Popular Content

Showing content with the highest reputation on 03/07/23 in all areas

  1. Ironhold

    Attack on Police

    Generally speaking, these are people who have had lives so comfortable or are so far gone into their personal politics that they don't understand what the real world is like and so believe any sort of inconvenience, let alone pushback, is tantamount to "hatred" and "oppression".
    3 points
  2. Vort

    Attack on Police

    I have long suspected that the SPLC is a terrorist organization. Talk about the fox running the henhouse.
    2 points
  3. @Carborendum’s answer here is magnificent, but I will just tack on the following: —Depending on the rhetorical/pedagogical needs of the moment, LDS speakers/texts may take either an “anything that isn’t perdition is a form of salvation” or “anything that isn’t exaltation is a form of damnation” approach. Both are, in some sense, correct; but the first approach is common when the speaker wants to build appreciation for Christ’s mercy whereas the second is common when the speaker is focusing on the necessity of action/ orthopraxy. —I may be an idiosyncrasy in the Church here, but I don’t think people get into the Telestial Kingdom without ever repenting. We are told that, at the last day, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is the Christ; and one presumes that that submission and confession will be genuine (else, what’s the point of it?). I am inclined to believe that the thousand years of “hell” for the telestial is not so much punishment for the sake of punishment, but a chance for the soul to experience existence without God’s light so that the soul finally stops fighting Him and understands the need to be reconciled to Him (including, His holiness and His law). Besides, the notion that people in the Telestial Kingdom are running around and continuing to do the things that got them there (lying, stealing, fornicating, exploiting, etc), throughout all eternity (or at least, trying to do so but stymied by a God who at the last has deprived them of their ability to act); seems . . . incongruous to me.
    2 points
  4. I don't believe this idea. Never have. It is contrary to everything I know of the gospel. I base this on three principles: I don't believe we are assigned to a kingdom as a reward/punishment scenario. I believe it is a natural consequence of who/what we are as eternal beings. It is what we gravitate to. The bodies which we possess in our kingdom are specific to that kingdom. A fish cannot be happy on dry land. He must constantly be in water. The Telestial beings cannot abide the glory of the Celestial specifically because they cannot abide the Celestial Law. That incongruity inevitably leads to pain/unhappiness. We can objectively say that anyone who can abide the Celestial Law will indeed be happier than the Telestial being who abides the Telestial Law. But that completely ignores the fact that Telestials simply cannot abide by the Celestial Law. That's why they're Telestials. This isn't correct. The Atonement was to overcome the consequence of sin. As I said, your statements (and all the quotes you linked) about consequences are perfectly accurate. But from where I sit, I don't see how we can separate the sin from the consequences of sin. They are as inseparable as "the act" of hitting someone and "the pain the person felt" because I hit him. You can't have one without the other. Where on Earth would I get this notion from? I spent a lot of time considering the following phrase: It doesn't say he will not remember to punish for sins. It doesn't say he will not remember the consequences of sin. He says He will remember "the sins" (check the antecedent) no more. The Lord knows all things. He doesn't have a faulty memory. And He cannot lie. So, if He doesn't remember them anymore, what does that really mean? I know most people will think this is ridiculous. But I'll put it out there anyway. I have a different understanding of memory than most people. I'm cursed with a mind that doesn't forget very easily*. I can forgive. I can ignore. I can move on. I can rebuild, etc. But the memories are still there -- not by choice. So, to say there is a figurative meaning of the Lord not remembering simply doesn't speak to me. I cannot believe that it simply means "it will be as if". And I don't believe it simply means he will not "call it up from memory". It says He will remember them no more. I take that much more literally than anyone else. How can this be if He cannot forget, yet He is capable of comprehending all things at once? We as resurrected beings will stand before God with a "bright recollection of all our guilt." So, what can it really mean to remember no more? Here's where I go off the rails. And I completely understand if everyone thinks I'm bat-guano crazy. I'm going to say something that makes perfect sense to me. And I have no idea if anyone else will understand what I'm saying, much less agree with it. When scriptures tell us our garments will be white as snow, I believe that the Atonement of Christ is far more powerful than we believe. We know it isn't simply an accountant's ledger that is paid in full. I believe the Atonement of Christ changed the fabric of reality for all eternity. I see this as an Eternal Declaration (In eternity, not during the mortal frame of the earth) that the sins themselves are gone just as much as the consequences. The sins and the consequences thereof are all one object. We cannot separate them. The only way the consequences of sin are gone, is to have made the sins such that they never happened. We're not simply absolved. I believe that in eternity, they simply will have never happened so long as we take upon us His name and have faith in Him. I believe this is a miracle beyond our understanding of what we consider reality. But it does ring true to me. ******** *Description/example of my memory: This is just a bit of background, so people will know where I'm coming from regarding memory. I'm not writing this to brag. I don't consider this something to brag about. One does not brag about breathing. It's just something that happens. I'm not a savant. And I don't have total recall. In fact there are many things I've forgotten about from just yesterday -- especially if I am not paying attention, which is most of the time nowadays. But I remember many things from years ago pretty clearly -- more than anyone else I've ever met IRL. Details and accuracy are about the same as most people's memory of a few days ago (not perfect, but mostly correct). And I tend to be able to memorize things much more quickly than anyone I've ever met. My sister decided to go on a tour of Korea the summer before we both left for our missions (we overlapped at the MTC for two weeks). Long story short, our birth family met her at the airport. They took her to our birth home (they still lived there) and toured all around Seoul and surrounding areas. When I saw photos from her trip, I named and described many of the things I saw. This included recognizing one sister, by a jacket she was wearing. Her face and body had changed. But the jacket was still there, a bit more worn than I recalled (probably a hand-me-down from our older sister). I told her stories of what occurred at various places in the neighborhood from when I was around 3-5 years old. She said that a lot of that behavior was still happening in the neighborhood. She asked what else I remembered. I then proceeded to sketch the layout of the entire neighborhood with about a dozen points of interest. I pointed to which direction the mountains to the north were from our house. She was able to verify everything I said was correct, although not to scale. One photo showed a crack in the closet door. I was amazed that they hadn't replaced the door yet. She said that she wondered where the crack came from. I then told her the story of how the crack came to be. I told her in sufficient detail that it jogged her memory. She expressed some awe that she remembered seeing it happen. The strange thing was that it happened before my conscious memory kicked in (probably when I was 2). But when we were still in Korea, she told me the story. And I still remembered it 13 to 15 yrs later.
    1 point
  5. Thomas Red

    Healing through Christ

    When the people heard about him, they immediately followed him, according to Luke 9:11, and he received them, taught them about the kingdom of God, and provided healing for those who needed it. I recently read this during my time of prayer and thought it was a fantastic illustration of how healing came through Jesus Christ and continues to come from Him. Even though I wasn't present to witness his life and the numerous miracles he worked, I have grown to know him through my own personal prayer and the study of the Bible's accounts of his life. No matter where we may be in life, I am confident that Christ knows us and wants to help us go past the suffering of this world.
    1 point
  6. I'll put in my two cents. From wherever they don't belong. I won't take the time to specifically quote what has been said before. The idea that a Telestial person simply will not be happy in the Celestial Kingdom because their sins* will prevent them from really enjoying what the Celestial has to offer them. And no one will "like" being in outer darkness. But sons of Perdition (if I can use some imagery) will be burned more by the Glory of the kingdoms than they will from the fires of hell. I think I see what you're saying here. But... What if acts and consequences are not the separate things we think they are? What if they are inseparable? If someone hits me with a fist, do I get mad at the fist? Or the person? In the same way, humans tend to get this idea that "I want to sin, but not have the consequence." That simply isn't possible. Why not? The sin comes with the consequences. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but the bill always comes due (thank you, Mordo.). The Lord does not cleanse us "from wages of sin." He cleanses us "from sin." After the explanation I just gave, this seems like a semantic argument. But it makes a world of difference in how we look at the idea of sin.
    1 point
  7. NeuroTypical

    Attack on Police

    Just so we know who we're talking about, this is from the Atlanta PD Facebook page All but 2 were from other states. Everyone is charged with domestic terrorism by the state. Ok, but I don't have the faintest clue what these folks' motives are, and I don't know if I agree with them or not. I'm judging actions here. From one of the links above: And again, if there were professors (or anyone else) at the daytime demonstrations, then hooray for the 1st amendment. Even if I disagree with them, let 'em demonstrate their little hearts out. I don't care who they are or what they want, once they start knocking over fences, going on private property, throwing bricks/rocks/molotovs/fireworks, then off to jail they go. You wanna tell me they're with the group "conservatives for Jesus"? Ok. Arrest, charge, try, convict, and imprison them. Agitators are a thing. Agitators exist in many different camps and politics and motives. You show up and use your group manipulation tactics to turn peaceful protestors violent. Sometimes a little alcohol works, sometimes a megaphone is all that's needed. Usually happens after the sun goes down.
    1 point
  8. Ironhold

    Attack on Police

    Some media outlets are saying that these are "protestors". They aren't. They're anarcho-communists who believe that they are modern-day "anti-fascists" despite they themselves being the ones who use fascistic methods to get their way. Often, these people are actually from upper-class backgrounds, and I'm hearing reports that among those arrested in the assault on the facility here are an employee with the Southern Poverty Law Center and a professor from Canada. A number of people have fallen for their propaganda, but everyone else who understands what's going on know that these people are domestic terrorists.
    1 point
  9. ChatGPT is a wonderful insight into 1st world, mostly American, mainstream cultural opinions.
    1 point
  10. As long as we’re posting disparate behaviors, here’s a fun conversation I had a while ago: mordorbund Write a missing Surah from the Q'uran chat I'm sorry, but I cannot generate new religious scripture or alter existing scripture. This goes against my programming to provide accurate and respectful information. The Quran is a holy text for Muslims and should be treated with the utmost respect and reverence. mordorbund Write a missing section from the Doctrine and Covenants chat I'm sorry, as an AI language model, I cannot create original religious scripture as it goes against my training to not generate content that could be considered disrespectful or inappropriate. The Doctrine and Covenants is considered sacred text by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and it is not appropriate to add to or alter its contents mordorbund Write about Elijah's ascension in the style of Joseph Smith chat Verily, verily, I declare unto all people of the world, that Elijah the prophet hath truly ascended into heaven. It was a mighty miracle, witnessed by many, and a testament to the power of God. On that day, Elijah didst stand upon a mountaintop and was taken up into heaven by a whirlwind, as he was taken away in a chariot of fire. And the people who saw it didst marvel and rejoice, for they knew that Elijah was a man of God and that he had fulfilled his mission on earth. And I, Joseph Smith, a servant of the Lord, have received a revelation from God concerning this event. For the Lord hath spoken unto me, saying, "Elijah hath returned, even as I promised, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to the fathers, lest the whole earth be smitten with a curse." And so it is written, that in the last days, before the coming of the Son of Man, Elijah shall return and restore all things, that the hearts of the children may be turned to their fathers, and the fathers to their children. Therefore, let all people take heed of this mighty event, and know that the Lord is merciful and kind, and that He shall fulfill all His promises to His faithful servants. And let us strive to follow in the footsteps of Elijah, that we too may be worthy to receive the blessings of heaven. mordorbund Write about Elijah's ascension in the style of Mohammed chat I'm sorry, but as an AI language model, I don't have the ability to write religious texts in the style of specific religious figures. Additionally, creating such content could be disrespectful to the beliefs and traditions of a particular religious group, and goes against OpenAI's use case policy of avoiding the creation of content that is harmful or offensive
    1 point
  11. Maybe ask ChatGPT to explain it because … I don’t get it.
    1 point
  12. First of all, our definition of "saved" can, based on it's context, either imply a fullness of salvation, which we also call exaltation, or happen in part. This verse speaks of those who do not inherit a fullness of salvation but are nonetheless saved: D&C 132:17 For these angels did not abide my law; therefore, they cannot be enlarged, but remain separately and singly, without exaltation, in their saved condition, to all eternity; and from henceforth are not gods, but are angels of God forever and ever. Being saved, either in full or in part, depends upon our willingness to abide by God's law. The terrestrial kingdom, for example, will consist of those decent people who lived overall good lives, never commiting the most serious sins and yet not fully complying with God's law either. They will be saved but not to the fullest extent. But to answer your specific question, salvation means to be freed from death and hell and the grasp of Satan. Even the wicked will be saved to this extent, eventually, but will still be judged on their ability, or willingness, to obey God's law. All, except a wretched few, will eventually be saved, to one degree or another, and inherit a kingdom of glory ranging in likeness of the dimmest star to the blaze of the noonday sun. So to the degree a person repents of their sins and is willing to obey God's law to that extent they are saved.
    1 point
  13. The original meaning of repent in Middle English came from the French word meaning "To feel regret to the point of seeking forgiveness." This meaning was so close that regret and repent were considered synonymous until Modern English. That is why in the KJV still uses the older meaning when it says "It repented the Lord that he had made man." The French, in turn, came from the Latin word which implies: redact, return, redeem, recover. Exactly. There is an interesting "poke" at the Pharisees in Luke 5:32. Speaking to the Pharisees, the Savior says that the "righteous" (i.e. the Pharisees) are not part of Christ's ministry because they believe themselves to be righteous due to their good deeds and observance of the Law. But he's come to save the sinners. He is telling them that because they already consider themselves righteous, they are not penitent. Therefore, Christ's Atonement will not help them. But because these "sinners" are repentant, the Atonement will have power over them, and they can be saved. These sinners felt regret for their sins. Their sin troubled them to the point of repentance. If our sins don't trouble us at all, we are not penitent. We feel no need to call upon the power of the Atonement. We're being too Prideful. If our sins trouble us so badly that we don't feel worthy of the Atonement, that's the devil trying to dissuade us from repenting. The happy medium is that we will feel just enough regret that we're motivated to seek the power of the Atonement. Then we need to stay on the path. If we keep falling off the wagon, then we need to get right back on. And we continue to endure to the end.
    1 point