Starfish

Of course we should treat EVERYONE with respect. If you look back over the many posts, you will see a lot of respectful posts. This forum is the most respectful forum I've been in. Never is rudeness justified. I don't think anyone ever advocated otherwise. I cannot judge any LDS who voted against Prop 8. It's not my place. But I do object to public declarations by a member of our church against the counsel of our Prophet.

This is one of the many reasons I love the LDS Church. Every penny donated to the needy, goes to the needy. No handling fees. No bureaucracy. No compulsion. Small needs handled locally and individually. Large needs met swiftly and given freely. And the constant teaching: prepare, plan, thrift, learn, save, share, work, choice, righteousness. The Church welfare program is a model to the world.

I see this as a lack of confidence in the goodness of people. As if, "Surely people won't GIVE enough so it must be forced out of them". This is very sad.

IMO the entire difference is choice/agency. The United Order was voluntary. Government taxation is not. Your obligation to share is good. You will receive blessings from sharing. You are being obedient to commandments. But when your money is taken by force and you have no choice--you have not earned any blessings. You have not been obedient because you had no option. It's bondage, just as Satan wanted. FORCE them to do good.

Happy to help. Joseph Fielding Smith, Doctrines of Salvation, Vol. 2, p. 230 All spirits of men after death return to the spirit world. There, as I understand it, the righteous--meaning those who have been baptized and who have been faithful--are gathererd in one part and all the others in another part of the spirit world. D&C 138: 30-37 (verse 31-33) And the chosen messengers went forth to declare the acceptable day of the Lord and proclaim liberty to the captives who were bound, even unto all who would repent of their sins and receive the gospel. Thus was the gospel preached to those who had died in their sins, without a knowledge of the truth, or in transgression, having rejected the prophets. These were taught faith in God, repentance from sin, vicarious baptism for the the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands. Gospel Principles, p. 292 The Apostle Peter referred to the spirit world as a prison, which it is for some (see 1 Pet. 3: 18-20). In the spirit prison are the spirits of those who have not yet received the gospel of Jesus Christ. These spirits have agency and may be enticed by both good and evil. If they accept the gospel and the ordinances performed for them in the temples, they may prepare themselves to leave the spirit prison and dwell in paradise.

Consider yourself told.

Give your RS president a BIG hug for me!

Kinda motivates you towards family history work and proxy temple work, doesn't it?

You must be properly baptized to enter Paradise. That leaves out a lot of good, honorable people. So Spirit Prison must be a very individual and varying experience from one occupant to another. I think one's own conscience will determine one's experience in Spirit Prison. I would think that someone who is in Spirit Prison simply because they'd never heard of Christ, but otherwise lived an honest life, would be farely comfortable there, but would also know there is something better and strive for it. It's called prison because they can't progress within it. They are held back, so to speak.

If our Prophet wants us to start doing something, he should start an email rumor. We'd probably react more to that than we do to a talk in Conference. Sheesh.

When I noticed my arms started looking like my 2nd grade teacher's. Yuk! I'm now doing pushups!!

But when you aren't clear that you're Christian, as a LDS, then doesn't that send a message that we don't follow Christ? Doesn't that add to an already false perception of us by mainstream Christianity? I kind of liken this to my affiliation with the Republican Party. I don't agree with the direction it has gone, so do I leave it, or stay and work towards trying to bring it back to what it used to be? Abandon it or try to save it? Maybe that was a poor analogy . . .

In addition to my beloved LDS title, I hold tightly to the title "Christian", and will not let anyone try to deny me it. Christ is my Savior and Redeemer and as long as His name is the root of the word, I will honor and claim it. And I am happily willing to share the title with anyone who follows Christ in any interpretation he/she sincerely and respectfully believes.

IF IT'S NOT IN LDS.ORG, DISREGARD IT. If the brethren intend to be quoted, they will say it in General Conference.

I was going to suggest bake a pie together. From scratch. You could even make some homemade icecream to go with it. Then enjoy it over a board game.

IMO, (I know, who cares what I think?) since you joined the Catholic Church, then really be Catholic! I respect most religions and have a GREAT appreciation for the good they bring into this world. It bothers me to see people profess a particular faith, but then not live it. Attend mass each week and do all that your religion embraces. Live it to the fullest. Raise your children to love God, and to stay close to His guidance. Best wishes. P.S. If my son/daughter/sibling left the LDS faith and joined another, my heart would be broken. BUT I would never reject them and would do all I could to respect their choice. I've seen negative family reactions when people become LDS and have learned it does no good.

The righteous will not be denied anything. You are loved by your Father in Heaven. Stay close to the Spirit and you'll be fine.

This is really interesting and I should have read it carefully before posting, so as to not be repetative. Thanks Loudmouth. I don't get all worked up over it. I eat meat, but not a lot. Health experts today support limited meat in our diet (especially red meat). Anyway, I think this counsel was put out there for us to use our own intelligence to govern ourselves.

Apparently in the 1800's a typical (or prefered) diet included a lot of meat. So eating it "sparingly" may be relative. Doctrine and Covenants 49: 18 And whoso forbiddeth to abstain from meats, that man should not eat the same, is not ordained of God; 19 For, behold, the beasts of the field and the fowls of the air, and that which cometh of the earth, is ordained for the use of man for food and for raiment, and that he might have in abundance. 20 But it is not given that one man should possess that which is above another, wherefore the world lieth in sin. 21 And wo be unto man that sheddeth blood or that wasteth flesh and hath no need.

I don't think we know why coffee and tea are forbidden. Caffeine is not mentioned in the Word of Wisdom. Has a prophet clarified this? I don't think so. I don't choose to drink caffinated pop, but that's just a personal choice, because I prefer to not have the stimulant and I've seen people get addicted to it. Any addiction is a loss of freedom, IMO.

Hi Aust 1. I recommend you contact the missionaries first thing. They will direct you on recommended reading, etc. This is what they do--what they are trained in. They'll know how to help you. I hope you do choose to join. It will be the greatest thing you ever do. I love the Gospel with all my heart. Every good thing in my life has been the result of my activity in this church. It will lead you to Christ and to our Father in Heaven. There will be a lot to learn, but just take it a step at a time. You will be warmly welcomed and gain a new "family" wherever you go, while at the same time giving you more reason to stay bonded to your own family. The Gospel of Jesus Christ, as taught in the LDS Church, is true. The Holy Ghost will testify this to you, if you truly seek to know. Best wishes.

I would like to hear your story also, Gibsons.

For without the bouncing, the blessing is invalid.

Good question. No. However, the commitment goes without saying. All LDS commit to follow the Lord through baptism and in temple covenants. Raising children in the Gospel certainly fits in with following the Lord. In the blessing, as in all blessings, the priesthood holder says whatever that Spirit (Holy Ghost) directs him to say.