skalenfehl

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  1. Like
    skalenfehl reacted to Traveler in Covenants, Commandments and personal standards   
    In the thread (Something I noticed about the 4 conference sessions) I was impressed by a side conversation between @MormonGatorand@The Folk Prophet (that included others).  The conversation touched on a personal struggle of my own and I thought to ask The Folk Prophet specific questions – however, having thought about my question I thought to open the process and thought to the forum as a whole. 
     
    I find your (The Folk Prophet or anyone else inclined to respond) thinking intriguing and would like to dig a little deeper into your thought processes.  For you (not a dictionary version but yours), what is compassion and how do you identify someone (including and especially yourself) as compassionate.  Also, what, in your thinking, is the most important element that you use to determine when your actions are right and wrong?  -- Perhaps your top 10 (give or take) elements?   One last question – do you or do you not expect that others should be held to the same standards that you hold for yourself – or do you allow for any “benefits of a doubt” for others?
     
    The Traveler
  2. Like
    skalenfehl reacted to Vort in Sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise   
    I agree with this, at least with the words you are saying. But it brings up a problem. There exist people who hear voices that are not really there. In fact, we all do this, every night. But some people do it when they are awake and conscious; this is called psychosis, and is not related to the ability to hear the whisperings of the Spirit.
    I feel sure that all who are familiar with the whisperings of the Holy Ghost will sense and understand the voice of God in such a situation, and will find it a familiar, comforting experience. I think we are wise to point out that the "holy spirit of promise" is a manifestation of that very same Holy Ghost that we felt in childhood, or when first contacted by the missionaries, or when listening to the sacrament prayer, or whenever else it was. It is not a dramatic departure from the path the Lord has led us along; it is a natural continuation of that path.
    At least, that's my current understanding. I may update it when my calling and election have been made sure.
  3. Like
    skalenfehl reacted to Vort in Sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise   
    The Holy Ghost is the voice of the Lord.
  4. Like
    skalenfehl got a reaction from Sunday21 in Do lds people pray to Christ?   
    Sorry about the quotes. This forum really has issues. Or I really have issues with the way we can post (and can't even review our posts to prevent embarrassing formatting). I can't even figure out how to delete my poorly submitted posts.
  5. Like
    skalenfehl got a reaction from Sunday21 in Do lds people pray to Christ?   
  6. Like
    skalenfehl got a reaction from NightSG in Thoughts on gay scene in Beauty and the Beast   
    Gay scene? What? Don't people understand that love should only be between a woman and a giant horned animal?!?
  7. Like
    skalenfehl got a reaction from Backroads in I owe $15,000 in tithing, Can I pay it elsewhere?   
    Whenever I see someone ask people such questions, I always quote Nephi. Laman and Lemuel inquired of Nephi because it was sooooo much easier than asking God. And even though Nephi's answers were correct, his brothers put their trust in his answers rather than ask God about their father's visions unlike Nephi, who went straight to God and inquired of Him rather than just take his dad's word for it. But that takes, you know, effort. Moroni called it real intent. 
  8. Like
    skalenfehl got a reaction from wenglund in Thoughts on gay scene in Beauty and the Beast   
    I'm old enough to remember where that expression originated. 
     
  9. Like
    skalenfehl got a reaction from Backroads in Thoughts on gay scene in Beauty and the Beast   
    I'm old enough to remember where that expression originated. 
     
  10. Like
    skalenfehl got a reaction from askandanswer in Exaltation and Isaiah 66: 1-2   
    God is indeed Spirit. Our scriptures indicate such as well. But that is not the same thing as being a spirit. Man is also Spirit. 
    Furthermore, Joseph Smith taught in the Lectures on Faith the following about the attributes of God:
    Before we came to the earth, each of us was (and is) Spirit. We came to the earth and took upon ourselves tabernacles of clay, made of the dust of the earth. Or at least Adam was and so we all are. Likewise, Jehovah condescended to take upon Himself flesh becoming a "Son," though returning to heaven a "Father," still Spirit, but also clothed in glory and power, having overcome all enemies, including death, thus possessing all perfection and fullness. We, however, do not possess such glory or power or fullness. There are also those not yet born into the world who are spirits, but also Spirit. Context matters in these things, but as mentioned in the above post, spirit has various meanings, for example:
     
  11. Like
    skalenfehl got a reaction from my two cents in The Book of Mormon and modern day problems   
    I believe the most problematic was secret combinations, which we are warned about in Ether 8. It proved to be the downfall of the Nephites and the dwindling in unbelief of the Lamanites. "Gadiantons" are alive and well in the US and in Utah, where I live. 
  12. Like
    skalenfehl reacted to cdw3423 in Elder Nelson's 2200 Scripture Challenge   
    For those who haven't seen it yet, Elder Nelson gave a challenge to study the 2200 scriptures about Jesus Christ listed in the Topical Guide. 
    https://www.lds.org/blog/i-studied-more-than-2200-scriptures-about-the-savior-in-six-weeks-here-is-a-little-of-what-i-learned?lang=eng
    I wanted to see if I could organize the information in a way to make it easier to study.  Being a programmer I wrote some code to parse the 50 something TG entries about Christ and save all of the references in a database.  I found 2227, however only 1648 were unique. So I created a table that has a row for each of the unique reference grouped by the topic they came from.  I thought I would share that in case anyone else might find it useful.
    http://ldsgeo.org/ElderNelsonChallengeOnSteroids.php
     
    Chris W.
     
  13. Like
    skalenfehl got a reaction from Sunday21 in Thoughts on gay scene in Beauty and the Beast   
    Gay scene? What? Don't people understand that love should only be between a woman and a giant horned animal?!?
  14. Like
    skalenfehl reacted to Bad Karma in Thoughts on gay scene in Beauty and the Beast   
    Me too Brother, me too.   That episode still makes me roll my eyes, but the saying makes me chuckle, it's just so appropriate at times. 
  15. Like
    skalenfehl got a reaction from Bad Karma in Thoughts on gay scene in Beauty and the Beast   
    I'm old enough to remember where that expression originated. 
     
  16. Like
    skalenfehl reacted to Bad Karma in Thoughts on gay scene in Beauty and the Beast   
    Houston, we have jumped the shark. 
  17. Like
    skalenfehl got a reaction from zil in Exaltation and Isaiah 66: 1-2   
    God is indeed Spirit. Our scriptures indicate such as well. But that is not the same thing as being a spirit. Man is also Spirit. 
    Furthermore, Joseph Smith taught in the Lectures on Faith the following about the attributes of God:
    Before we came to the earth, each of us was (and is) Spirit. We came to the earth and took upon ourselves tabernacles of clay, made of the dust of the earth. Or at least Adam was and so we all are. Likewise, Jehovah condescended to take upon Himself flesh becoming a "Son," though returning to heaven a "Father," still Spirit, but also clothed in glory and power, having overcome all enemies, including death, thus possessing all perfection and fullness. We, however, do not possess such glory or power or fullness. There are also those not yet born into the world who are spirits, but also Spirit. Context matters in these things, but as mentioned in the above post, spirit has various meanings, for example:
     
  18. Like
    skalenfehl got a reaction from Blackmarch in I owe $15,000 in tithing, Can I pay it elsewhere?   
    Whenever I see someone ask people such questions, I always quote Nephi. Laman and Lemuel inquired of Nephi because it was sooooo much easier than asking God. And even though Nephi's answers were correct, his brothers put their trust in his answers rather than ask God about their father's visions unlike Nephi, who went straight to God and inquired of Him rather than just take his dad's word for it. But that takes, you know, effort. Moroni called it real intent. 
  19. Like
    skalenfehl got a reaction from a mustard seed in I owe $15,000 in tithing, Can I pay it elsewhere?   
    Whenever I see someone ask people such questions, I always quote Nephi. Laman and Lemuel inquired of Nephi because it was sooooo much easier than asking God. And even though Nephi's answers were correct, his brothers put their trust in his answers rather than ask God about their father's visions unlike Nephi, who went straight to God and inquired of Him rather than just take his dad's word for it. But that takes, you know, effort. Moroni called it real intent. 
  20. Like
    skalenfehl got a reaction from zil in I owe $15,000 in tithing, Can I pay it elsewhere?   
    Whenever I see someone ask people such questions, I always quote Nephi. Laman and Lemuel inquired of Nephi because it was sooooo much easier than asking God. And even though Nephi's answers were correct, his brothers put their trust in his answers rather than ask God about their father's visions unlike Nephi, who went straight to God and inquired of Him rather than just take his dad's word for it. But that takes, you know, effort. Moroni called it real intent. 
  21. Like
    skalenfehl got a reaction from Fether in The Law   
    Hi, Fether. If you reread my post carefully, you will see that we are saying the same thing, including my quoting Jesus Christ. "Enter ye in..." (3 Ne 27:33). Thus we are sanctified. It is the only way (there is no other way).
    My post also addressed the OP's question of the Law of Moses and also what the fullness of the gospel entails. Have a great day!
  22. Like
    skalenfehl reacted to Fether in The Law   
    @skalenfehl
    I think it would also be beneficial to talk about what the law is.
    "20 There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated--
    21 And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated." - D+C 130:20-21
    this shows that this "law" is not something made by G-d but has always been around.
    "34 And again, verily I say unto you, that which is governed by law is also preserved by law and perfected and sanctified by the same." - D+C 88:34
    those that are governed by law (or in other words are obedient to the law) are perfected and sanctified.
     
    The law is eternal. Much like for us the law of gravity, or the law that matter cannot be created or destroyed. They aren't things that we can just decide to change. G-d cannot change the law because it is the law that makes him who he is. This is why we stress obedience and purity. The more we obey and the more pure we become, the more spiritual power we receive.
    We all know how gravity works (or at least will learn how eventually). It would be rediculous if someone were to explain to us every possible event that couls occur w/ gravity because there are infinite possibilities.
    Similarly, King Benjamin taught us that:
    "I cannot tell you all the things whereby ye may commit sin; for there are divers ways and means, even so many that I cannot number them. But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts, and your words, and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith ... even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish." Mosiah 4:29-30.
    We don't need every example of the law explained, nor told every way to break the law. Why? Because it is all naturally in us. Just as we naturally come to know the law of gravity, so do we naturally come to know the Law of G-d (Moroni 7:6).
    CONCLUSION:
    In order to live a life free of pain caused by gravity, all we need to know is "What goes up must come down" -Isaac Newton. Everything else stems from that.
    Just like the law of gravity, I don't know that we can, nor need to define "The law of the Gospel" beyond what Christ said about loving G-d and our neighbor, and the five "steps" to eternal life. Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End. All other laws hang from these.
    Any further explanation would be redundant and unnecessarily complicated. We know what is good and evil. We know the law without having to be told it.
  23. Like
    skalenfehl got a reaction from NeuroTypical in The Law   
    Indeed the two greatest commandments are an integral part of it. Or as Nephi taught:
    Verse twenty includes the two greatest commandments. I have written more in my blog if you're interested: https://latterdaylamanite.com/2016/10/17/a-tale-of-two-comforters/
  24. Like
    skalenfehl reacted to Traveler in The Law   
    Prior to Christ – the house of Israel established their relationship with G-d through what we call the “Law of Moses”.  This was defined by the 10 Commandments.  As I understand one’s relationship with G-d is defined and established by 3 principle means.  #1.  The Law.  #2 The ordinances of the Law.   And #3. The covenants of the Law.
    Today we LDS live under the “Law of the Gospel” and the “Law of the Gospel” is defined in various passages of scriptures.  Does anyone have what they think is a clear understanding of the Commandments associated with the “Law of the Gospel”?  I have some ideas because of the Temple Endowment.  But my Question is – What is the fullness of the Gospel?  In particular, what is the fullness or the complete commandments?  I think I understand the ordinances and covenants associated with the “Law of the Gospel” but I am wondering what others believe or think the commandments of the “Law of the Gospel” are?
     
    The Traveler
  25. Like
    skalenfehl got a reaction from Blackmarch in The Book of Mormon and modern day problems   
    Just a quick glance of your post and I noticed nuclear catastrophe/war. Isaiah and Nephi come to mind. 2 Nephi chapter 13 is relevant, but:
    The Nephites likened the scriptures (especially Isaiah) to themselves being covenant people. We, also being covenant people can liken their writings to ourselves, too.