skalenfehl

Have you gotten to know him? Have you invited him to family functions, maybe camping or fishing or sports event or whatever? What are his interests and aspirations?

Joseph Smith spent a lot of time in his life in meditation. His mother once wrote that his brothers and sisters enjoyed reading more, but he far more given to meditation and deep study. He once remarked, "It is my meditation all the day, and more than my meat and drink, to know how I shall make the Saints of God comprehend the visions that roll like an overflowing surge before my mind." Nephi also spent time in meditation, pondering many things. As he sat in his tent pondering things, or as I would consider meditating, he was carried away in the Spirit. To me, meditation is an integral part of prayer and supplication. It's that portion of time spent "listening" when I ask the Lord questions. I sit and wait and listen until an answer comes. Sometimes it takes hours, sometimes days, and occasionally months and yes, even years.

It is a part of my life. As one who has an overactive mind and imagination, it takes a lot for me to "be still" and quiet my mind and empty my thoughts and direct them to the Lord to receive the answers I need. Sometimes I spend hours on end supplicating in this manner and it has served me well.

Lehi's posterity and also Ishmael's were of Joseph. Lehi is of Manasseh and Ishmael was of Ephraim. Nephi's posterity died while Laman's was preserved and has yet to blossom as the rose. Further consideration: http://latterdaylamanite.com/2012/08/27/the-new-covenant-part-1/ http://latterdaylamanite.com/2012/08/29/the-new-covenant-part-2/ http://latterdaylamanite.com/2012/08/29/the-new-covenant-part-2/

Inside Out. Not what I expected. Well, it was, but not nearly as deep. I think I enjoyed the pre-show short: Lava. That was much more heartwarming.

Mosiah 1:1 And now there was no more contention in all the land of Zarahemla, among all the people who belonged to king Benjamin, so that king Benjamin had continual peace all the remainder of his days... 11...I shall give this people a name, that thereby they may be distinguished above all the people which the Lord God hath brought out of the land of Jerusalem; and this I do because they have been a diligent people in keeping the commandments of the Lord...

There are many scriptures including those in the book of Isaiah and also D&C, which discuss Zion and a day when She will be redeemed. That day is yet future. Then Enoch will return as will the Lord with all the powers of heaven. What we have now is a type and a shadow.

If I remember our temple covenants correctly, we do not consecrate of ourselves to the building up of the church, but rather, we consecrate to the church for the building up of Zion. I'm quite certain of this unless the endowment has been changed again. In any case, my addressing the poor is only one part of the equation and in answer specifically to Finrock. I still contend that consecrating of ourselves is simple (the concept), but not easy (the effort). But that's my story and I'm sticking to it. :)

Simple, yes. Easy? Nope!

Hello, Finrock. As we have no account of Enoch's labors, other than what we read in the Pearl of Great Price, the next best and closest example of Zion is what we read in 4th Nepthi concerning the few generations that lived during and after Christ visited the people. You have to read between the lines, though, throughout the Book of Mormon to catch glimpses of points in time when the people came close. Some examples are the people of King Benjamin, the Anti-Nephi-Lehis and the people at Bountiful after Christ's visit: There is a LOT going on here. But to address one thing you mentioned. The reason there are no poor among them is because they were equal in all things. They had all things common. That's not the same as having all things in common. The BoM never mentions that (except in one or two headers added in later). They had all things common. King Benjamin gave the best discourse on the matter than I have read in any other scripture. A careful study of his words teach us that we should not covet anything at all. Not even our own property. Jesus Christ told Martin Harris not to covet his own property; to pay off his debt and get out of bondage and finance the Book of Mormon. If you covet your own property, you are not likely to impart of your substance to the beggar when you're out shopping. In this Babylonian society, you worked hard for your cash. You paid taxes on it and by golly, you're gonna spend it on stuff. Nevermind the guy with the cardboard sign who's asking for help. It's this inequality and the mentality that King Benjamin addresses very specifically. Everything that we think we own came from the earth. Even our own bodies. Our tabernacles of flesh came from the earth. There isn't anything on this earth that didn't come from God. It is ALL His property. And He gives it to us freely. He has taught us how to multiply it for everyone's benefit. The saints in Joseph Smith's day polluted their inheritances and failed to build Zion and were cast out into the wilderness and ended up in Utah. Until we learn to truly impart of our substance, to impoverish ourselves if necessary to make ourselves equal in all things--to have all things common, we cannot understand charity. How can we be pure in heart and dwell in righteousness if we envy those who have more? Or even if we envy the beggar when others impart generously to them? After all, he didn't earn it! He's taking advantage of hard working people like you and me! This thinking is damnable for we are ALL beggars to God, undeserving of the air, which He gives us to breathe. If you don't believe me, read King Benjamin's words. The simplest things to learn are not the easiest. We are still so far away from becoming Zion. We love the world too much, and we hate the beggars. We ignore them as we pass them by. This damnable thinking prevents us from becoming pure in heart, from becoming charitable, from becoming Zion.

Zion is more than that, though. The people of Zion are those who 1. have one heart and one mind. 2. dwell in righteousness 3. have NO poor among them There's a lot going on in those three points.

Wow! Heathens will be redeemed! Nephi declared he had been redeemed. The brother of Jared was also redeemed as were many who saw God face to face. And look, they that knew no law will resurrect first! How can this be? They weren't covenant people! Indeed Zion will be filled with people outside the Lord's covenant in the Terrestrial world.

I am really enjoying the series.

San Andreas. Two thumbs up!

Great topic! This might interest you: http://www.ldsfreedomforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=36747 It's a topic I created on another forum. I thought it would take too much time to copy everything over here so I just linked it. Enjoy!

A few weeks ago in sacrament meeting, a group of youth performed "Oh, My Father." One of them played a guitar. It was kind of folksy, but very beautiful.

An individual may have one, both or all, depending upon his desires to seek them. We read in several places in the Book of Mormon, including Alma and Moroni what the many gifts are. Where much is given, much is required. The Lord gives us gifts according to our desires, diligence in obeying Him and using the gifts we seek (or have been already given) to bless the lives of others.

Avengers, Ultron

I believe that Nephi included specific chapters of Isaiah concerning the future of the Lord's covenant people, which Isaiah was ordained to reveal. In other words, prophets who have seen all things from beginning to end are not all lawfully allowed to reveal all. This is why Nephi was forbidden to write down what he saw, which only John was ordained to reveal. This is why Jacob included Zenos' allegory, although Jacob claims ownership of the same prophecy. But why write what has already been lawfully written? Jacob didn't need to rewrite the allegory. Nephi didn't need to write John's revelations. Finally, Nephi didn't need to write all that he saw concerning our day, when Isaiah had already done so and profoundly. Every time I read first and second Nephi, I sense the utter anxiety in Nephi's soul to reveal to us as much as he could get away with. And if he was forbidden to reveal it, he surely found a way around it. It has given me such an appreciation of not only Nephi and Jacob, but also and especially of Isaiah.

Nephi considered anyone not a Jew (meaning them from whence he came) a Gentile. In other words, anyone who is not of the "covenant people" of the Lord is a Gentile.

I don't take Facebook seriously anymore. I enjoyed it when it was new back in '08. Today it's become a cesspool of memes and themes. I am more likely to click on a link that is posted here than I would if it was posted there, even religious ones. Simply stated, I don't go to Facebook to be inspired.

If you are yoked to Him, it is easy and light. It's all relative. Is all the pain associated with sin and death easy? Considering it's temporary if one endures it well, yes!

Because without being yoked to Christ, we become yoked to the adversary. Which would really be harder? Which do yo prefer?

You know, sometimes smarter is harder. Did Nephi have to endure the harsh desert journey? Did Joseph Smith have to endure a harsh winter at liberty jail? Did Jesus Christ have to suffer in Gethsemane and die on a cross? Jeremiah needed to stay in Jerusalem. Lehi needed to leave. Both obtained the same reward. While we are all sojourners in this lone and dreary wilderness alike, our paths, though similar, are unique. Rather than say there is the right way and the wrong way to do something, I prefer to say about their being two ways is there is the right way and there is again. James12, while we all must carry our own crosses, the Lord's plan for each of us is customized. There is only the right way for you. Again, have ye inquired of the Lord?