jimuk

I would like to ask something about this " Grace alone " i know to most it is a simplistic type of question, but i am a simple human being. Right if man is saved by Grace alone, then what is the day of judgment for. And then would Jesus again be answerable for our sins. (Just a thought that popped into my head.)

Lol you are always on the button Elphaba.

Why is there such controversy over these things that are going on, you either believe in the word of god or you do not. I am sure the prophet has prayed long and hard concerning this issue and he would have counseled the Apostles as to what heavenly father would have us do concerning these things. There are things i do not agree with in the church, but this does not mean that they are wrong. We cannot only follow the bits of scripture we like and which benefit us, the scriptures are the words of god. thejason, If my memory serves correct, a Homosexual can get a Temple recommend the same as anyone else who is worthy of such a blessing. Oh well i hope i got it correct this time.

Thank you skalenfehl for the link, that made great reading.

Hi again, Try to remember when you first got a testimony of the church, how full and happy you were, it sounds like your wife still feels this way (and rightly so) she is as close to our father as ever and it is only right and respectful that she would ask of her father his advise, she knows that his advise will be the best course for her to follow. So where are we now, you know all the things that she holds close to her heart, so you need to do all you can to accommodate her on these things. In truth you do know all this, but i feel you are not prepared to make these sacrifices for her even knowing it is what she wants more than anything else.

Good luck to you, with the choices you make, i truly hope that things work out for you, but and there is a but, i do not think that showering her with gifts will work (in my personal view of things) I think that what would possibly work though is for her to see you taking a positive interest in church, as this seems so much more important to her than possessions. You love your wife this i can tell from the way you talk, but you will have to allow heavenly father to help you in this. Sometimes we need to go to him when it concerns things of faith, sometimes we need to make sacrifices, and i cant help but think your sacrifice would be to put your immediate thoughts about the church to one side and pray in Earnest to heavenly father in the name of Jesus Christ for him to help you. Forgot to say. Forget about money, wish i could afford to buy cheap c??p, What whould you be doing if you wasent so money orientated, money is nothing and is not going to help you with this one.

Hi FunKytown its the guilt feeling i am talking about. Maybe i am wrong Hmm, but the guy has a very real feeling of guilt, i have had this guilt feeling and it will not disappear until it is off ones chest so to speak, no matter what you do to try and put it right, it is always eating at you until you let it out. So ok pretend it hasent happened and maybe, just maybe the feeling of guilt will subside on its own. Of course if a guy loves his wife and vise versa, then the partners should always (in my opinion) be doing all that they can to keep each other reassured as to their feelings.

Hi and i am so sorry to hear of your obvious turmoil and it is a turmoil. If you tell the truth this will help with your salvation, (not meant to be selfish action) deceit is not a good thing, and if you do tell the truth, your wife is going to be devastated. If you live the lie it would not be fare to either of you, you both need to be able to move on with your lives. Then there are the children, they are the most innocent in all this and who will suffer in the end no matter what you choose to do. I do not have the answers but i can tell that you are desperately seeking advise, and you are truly concerned about your wife and children whom you DO love dearly, we all sin and your sin is affecting your family. You will never feel better in my honest opinion until you can relieve your spirit of this Heavy burden, it will eat away at you which will affect you as the patriarch of the family unit. Your wife loves you (from your description of her) so i am sure that she will forgive you if given the chance, and then you need to work at showing her all the love possible so she can herself feel free of the thoughts of where hers and the childrens life could have ended up, she could have ended up in conflict with heavenly father and blamed him for deserting her, (it does happen) and they fall away from the church and friends they have held so near to their hearts. This is more about the effects on the family unit than how bad you feel, so please please come clean or you " will " indeed witness your family unit falling apart before your very eyes. Hope anything i have said doesent seem to harsh, it is not meant to be, but it needs addressing and sooner rather than later. If your efforts fail then the last thing open to you would be to seek advise and counsel of your bishop. I do wish you all the best for you and your family.

I have been approached a few times by people asking for money to buy a cup of tea or food, never with a story about cars broken down, i very rarely refuse if i have any cash on me, no matter how little. I get this feeling that they may just be an Angel of god, if they aren't then it does not matter, they might genuinely be in need of sustenance, if not i have still done my charitable best.

Hi Mirium, glad to have you on board, i havent been here long myself and it really is a great place to be. You will find loads of good caring members here to help with your journey.

Yes we will go with monolatry.

Hey HoosierGuy, I like that, great way of putting it.

With all the trouble around the world at the moment, do you think we are in the times set out below in the new Testament. Luke 21 1And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury. 2And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites. 3And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: 4For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had. 5And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said, 6As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down. 7And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass? 8And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them. 9But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by. 10Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: 11And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven. 12But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. 13And it shall turn to you for a testimony. 14Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: 15For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. 16And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. 17And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. 18But there shall not an hair of your head perish. 19In your patience possess ye your souls. 20And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh. 21Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto. 22For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. 24And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. 25And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; 26Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. 29And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees; 30When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand. 31So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand. 32Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled. 33Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. 34And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. 37And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives. 38And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.

"John Ch. 17 makes very clear how the Savior and Heavenly Father are one. 21 That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me " bytor, Thank you for posting the above quote from the Bible, it is so plain to see, how could anyone read it so differently, i am not a learned person, it is not a parable it is so easy for everyone that can see to understand.

Thanks for all the posts, i think the words below would probably sum it up for me now. John 15:18-19 18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 if ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you

Hi Carl. " At any rate, IT IS NOT HATRED, it is simply not believing the same truth as what you call truth " Sorry the hate i am talking about is not from people who do not " believe the same truth " Because if they are spending their time studying the gospel of Jesus and know their own beliefs then they are truly righteous in their own beliefs, and they are Christians, it is those that know nothing about Jesus or LDS that causes me pain and anguish. You will know that up to not long ago there was an extermination "compleat annihilation" order in force against the members of the church. To me to want this against a people you would truly have to hate them.

Dont shoot me i'm only the messenger. and i do not profess to be a great reader of the scriptures, but i do know what i believe and why i believe it, the holy ghost has testified to me in a very strong and personal way. As i have said before, being a reader/scholar does not make anyone an authority on heavenly father, its whats in your heart and soul, its knowing through the power of the Holy ghost just how much we are loved. I believe that our heavenly father is exactly that, " our father " and i am sorry if i upset people by saying so. People Always want to Judge me, whenever i have something to say, i Love God, i Love Jesus, and i love all of you, if anyone will Judge me please let it be those who are in a position to do so. Jesus told us to be like him towards those that would listen with a contrite heart and a true enthusiasm for knowledge of the church, i do not think he meant us to be brow beaten into submission by those that would ridicule and ostracize us because of our beliefs.

Soulsearcher what do you mean ?" keep silent ", if you mean preaching yes i suppose that could be a little distracting to whatever was going on at the time.

Then please feel free to go read another thread, i do not need to study any other religion as i may not be as strong as you in my own, and it might just sway me from it. It is obvious you are looking to turn what was started with sincerity and with no malice what so ever into an argument, and i will not go down that road sorry Please do not judge me it is not your Job, i leave that up to heavenly father. So back to those that are truly interested in this thread.

lilered, But these people say we are not Christian and then proceed to act themselves in such an unchristian way towards us lol. We welcome any and everyone to come into our meeting houses, will our hearts ever be at piece. We are a peculiar people indeed, we DO love those that would seek to harm and despise us. We truly do have a great Teacher in Jesus.

Hi margin, i take it that the " demeaning " you are talking about are the points you have highlighted. " until they have some idea of what is happening to them " This is not demeaning, this is what i would want for my children, nothing to do with what other religious groups would want for theirs. " Instead of leaving us wandering in the wilderness, not knowing which way to go " Again how is this demeaning, i personally would feel that " i brought my children into this world so its my duty as a parent to guide them as best i can through it. I am sorry if these statements sound demeaning, they are not meant to be.

I sit and i ponder, i try to understand, i Just want to know what is so bad about our church, what do we do that makes folk from other denominations seem to dislike or even hate us so much. We try our hardest to please our father in heaven, we try to walk the path that Jesus walked, we do our best to keep the commandments, we love our brothers and sisters no matter what religion they belong to, we have love for our families, and we really do not hurt anybody intentionally/knowingly. Is it that we do not have our children baptized until they have some idea of what is happening to them. (Not so bad is it) Heavenly father is a just and loving father. Is it because we believe in a living prophet who does his very best to guide us and council us as to what our father in heaven would have us do instead of leaving us wandering in the wilderness, not knowing which way to go. (So reassuring to know we are not alone) would you not want what is good for your children, god is our father and wants what is best for all of us, he will guide us if we allow him to. What is it, i really want to know, please don't use the old reason "its because of the trinity", This would not stop the people of the church being a good and loving people. We love you all as Jesus does, please show us that same love and respect, as Jesus did command us " ALL " to do. If you are a true christian then you know that what i am saying is the truth. .

Well as you can see below, Jesus used this terminology whilst looking for followers to help him in his ministry, these guys were fishermen but instead of gathering in fishes he wants them to gather people and preach the word of god to them, for their everlasting salvation. Mark 1:16-20 "As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 'Come, follow me,' Jesus said, 'and I will make you fishers of men.' At once they left their nets and followed him. When he had gone a little further, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him."

candyprpl I understand that it makes your heart hurt so much, this should be a testimony to the good work you do here, you are truly a very spiritual person and its your spirit that is hurting to be heard, and it is being heard, by all those that will listen with sincerity in their hearts.

Wish i was brave enough to shoot straight from the hip like that lol.