skalenfehl

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Everything posted by skalenfehl

  1. I find it interesting that the prophets of the BoM referred to the veil as the "veil of unbelief." Very apt. But one must study out for himself why.
  2. That is correct. You see, the entire temple experience (initiatory through endowment) is for the exact purpose of preparing us for the real thing; a real veil, a real parting of the veil. The endowment is only symbolic and a similitude of the real thing. It is not a key to hang up on a wall. It is meant to unlock a real door. Seek and ye shall find. Ask and it shall be given. Knock and it shall be opened. We knock at the veil.
  3. I respect your decision, but I have yet to read anywhere that he has made such a declaration. He is no more above President Monson than Samuel the Lamanite was above Nephi. I am not here to defend him either. He can speak for himself. Let every latter-day Saint choose for himself. Denver takes everything that Moses, Isaiah, Nephi, Joseph Smith and our Savior (to name a few) taught and put them all together to shed light on doctrine, which is simply ignored because it is outside of most everyone's paradigm or at least outside the scope of the first principles and ordinances of the gospel. But there are many more. And only one dispensational prophet was able to successfully teach his people who did NOT reject his message. His name was Enoch.
  4. I have read his book among others that he has written, including books from John Pontius. I have absolutely no doubt that both brothers have received their calling and election and the Second Comforter just as Nephi and many other prophets in the Bible and Book of Mormon have declared is possible to the saints in their times. This is the entire point and purpose of the gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness. This is what Moses tried offering the Israelites, who refused and reviled Moses. So the Lord took Moses away just as Joseph Smith was taken away from the early saints of the restoration. Receiving these great gifts is what removes us individually from the condemnation that we have collectively been placed under since Joseph Smiths day (for not only not saying but doing what is in the New Covenant). Doctrine and Covenants 84:54-57
  5. "There can be only one!"
  6. For me Christianity is discipleship of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, but not only to believe Him and believe in Him, but to follow Him; to do His works and to come unto Him. Truly we are invited to literally seek, ask, knock and it shall be opened to us during our mortal lives if we truly put away the world and seek Him.
  7. Thrushcross, my prayers are with you. Please feel free to message me your email address. I would kindly appreciate your friendship.
  8. I read half of the first book. Decided not to finish it. He's a great story teller. Too graphic for me.
  9. OP, whatever is ailing you, perhaps the Spirit is waiting for you to take the next step. What follows godly sorrow? If you have experienced "that mighty change of heart," it's time to forgive yourself and see who you are through the Lord's eyes. He sees you as you were, as you are, and as you will become. Choose to take the next step.
  10. Ditto. I became an auditory learner after downloading the scriptures in mp3 format to my ipod and have listened many,many times to them. I used to become very drowsy during endowment sessions. In the last year, however, I find myself very attentive and have learned deeper meanings and mysteries pertaining to conversing with the Lord through the veil. I look forward to attending every week nowadays.
  11. One more two penny's worth from me to the OP: I am also an avid sci-fi/fantasy nerd. Love, love, love it. I wanted to watch Spartacus, Game of Thrones, and all those movies, too when they started airing a few years ago. It was about this time that I decided to unplug from the world, cancelling cable TV and now Netflix/Hulu. I probably watch an average of one hour of any kind of programming per week (wife and I have watched Survivor since season one) online. I love Star Wars, Firefly/Serenity, reimagined BSG (I have all the DVDs of the new series). But about a year ago or so, I just stopped watching them. I will likely sell them. I don't need them. I love the story, and everything about it, but it is just too sexual. I could tolerate the Cylon Toasters and Galactica's finest trading fire. There's not a lot of blood/gore either. But I just can't sit through an episode with suggestive scenes for the simple reason that it drives the Spirit away. Now this is what each member has to ask him/herself. How great is the presence of the Holy Spirit in my life? Personally speaking, I strongly feel the Lord's Spirit in my life. I have learned truly that as I draw near to Christ, He draws near to me as He promised. The light of Christ in our lives (Moroni 7); our conscience, that still small voice, is literally the voice of Christ that beckons us closer to the veil and it becomes more powerful and brighter until the perfect day. So can we still be members of the LDS church in good standing while watching such shows? I suppose it depends how much we can tolerate small spots and stains on our garments ever week. On a side note, being members of the LDS church is not the same at all as being members of the Church of the Firstborn as Enoch is. Few have found themselves ordained to such because their hearts are so set upon things of this world that we'd rather have our fun. We can always go to church and partake of the sacrament. But partaking of it won't truly sanctify us as the prayer invokes because we have not truly been reborn, having stripped ourselves of all ungodliness. And what constitutes ungodliness? Anything and everything OF this world. So it boils down to being a foolish or a wise virgin. There is a storm coming. Will we be standing in holy places when it arrives? Will our homes be a holy place and a refuge when it all hits? Okay, so it was much more than two cents. We may avoid pitch darkness, but we truly never attain the white end of the spectrum as long as we rationalize living in the gray area. It is a huge lukewarm area. And this is where we are lulled into believing that all is well in Zion. But we read in the BoM and D&C that we are under condemnation as spoken directly from Deity. I for one ache for Zion and am laboring daily in the world where family and callings are concerned. I hope and pray that everyone feels the same.
  12. There have always been books available and now Google, blogs, etc. The Church's function is to bring us to Christ. If we're not at least doing this, we can always study and research on our own. The church has plenty of history books.
  13. The light of Christ, i.e. His Holy Spirit is telling you something. Listen to it!
  14. You really need to ask this question?
  15. Elizabeth, I know it's difficult and I can't presume to know what you're feeling. Just one question: Can you likewise envision being her neighbor in the Celestial Kingdom? Christ descended below us all. Healing cannot begin without forgiveness. If the Lord is able to forgive (whom He will forgive), ought we all not to forgive as well? If you cannot put this on the altar of sacrifice, can you expect the Savior to forgive you of your trespasses and be worthy of Him? I know what I say is easier said than done, but I've walked my own paths so I know from experience that this is a must. Best wishes and good luck on your journey to find peace.
  16. Mine's in my signature.
  17. The last fiction I read was Ender's Game. I've read it more than once in the last twenty years. Never gets old. Really hope the movie is as good.
  18. Hmm...I think that if I could distill all the scriptures ever written into the fewest words possible, it would be, "Know Jesus Christ." And I use each of the three words judiciously. If I could expand it with one more word, it would be, "Know Jesus Christ today." Not tomorrow, not after mortality. Today. The plan of salvation, the preparatory gospel and especially the everlasting gospel and the fullness of the priesthood enables each and every one of us to know (as the brother of Jared knew, nothing doubting) Jesus Christ. That would be it. That would be all. Take the Spirit for your guide (2 Nephi 32).
  19. I would hope that he, like Nephi, would ask you, "have ye inquired of the Lord?"
  20. TPJS pg 286: "There will be wars and rumors of wars, signs in the heavens above and on the earth beneath, the sun turned into darkness and the moon to blood, earthquakes in divers places, the seas heaving beyond their bounds; then will appear one grand sign of the Son of Man in heaven. But what will the world do? They will say it is a planet, a comet, etc. But the Son of Man, which will be as the light of the morning cometh out of the east." JST Matt 24:36: "36 And, as I said before, after the tribulation of those days, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken, then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven..." The Mission of Elijah Reconsidered: "Here, then, we have finally arrived at Elijah‘s significance as the one who must first return. He was not the last one living who held the sealing power, though he did in fact possess it. Instead, he is vital as the last one to make the ascent from earth to heaven. He rose up through the fiery corridor, and went to God‘s presence. He joined the ―fathers in heaven who are to return. He last opened the way by his physical ascent. He will be the first to physically descend through the fiery corridor to return from heaven to dwell again on earth. His return will not be made in a temporary opening. We‘ve had plenty of those. His return will open a permanent, fixed stairway between the ―fathers in heaven and those who are prepared for the return of Zion. Zion will be overshadowed by the Lord‘s glory. The fiery corridor, or pillar of fire, or ladder to heaven,or conduit into heaven, or chariot of fire, will be opened by Elijah‘s descent. It will remain over Zion and will be visible there. It will not be temporary. It will be the place from which the first preparations for the Second Coming begin. At that location a small group will be prepared to endure this opening. They, and those called to join with them, will escape being ―utterly wasted at the unveiling of our Lord in glory at His return. It is Elijah who will restore the hearts of the fathers to the children or, in other words, he will reestablish the lost corridor between heaven and earth that connects those in heaven with those on earth. This fiery path needs to be opened beforehand. The path, once it opens, will allow men on the earth to be prepared for the coming again of those who are Zion above." p. 28-29 http://denversnuffer.info/Elijah.pdf Consider Christ's first coming and the sign, which was given: Helaman 14:5 And behold, there shall a new star arise, such an one as ye never have beheld; and this also shall be a sign unto you. Matthew 2:9-10: 9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. Kinda gives new meaning to the Christmas song with the particular line: "...with a tail as big as a kite." A great many things with Christ's first coming will repeat themselves (destructions, signs, wonders, etc) with Christ's second coming. There are a lot of gems to be found in scriptures and modern day revelations if you know where to look.
  21. As a Beachbody Coach, I did it a few years ago. I've since returned to my preference, which is powerlifting and various conditioning favorites, though I'm still a BB Coach and also a personal trainer. Insanity is very effective when done properly and while following the nutrition guide. Oh, and land softly! Your knees will thank you!
  22. There are truly angels and attending spirits around us every day. And evil ones as well. They whisper these things to you. The more you listen to either influence, the more power they begin to have over you until you are fully brought into the light or perish in the dark. Please listen to the Spirit, which is exhorting you to stay. Find your way back to light and love. It is more wonderful than you can yet imagine.
  23. Once my manuscript(s) are finished, I'm self publishing. This may interest you, PC: Amazon.com : Self-Publish with Us
  24. Thanks for the reviews. Taking my wife to see it this weekend.
  25. I usually spend 40+ hours per week. Helps to be an empty nester.