bytor2112

The Trinity.....how do you make sense of the sensless? Who was the Savior praying tin Gethsemenee? Why was he praying to himself so often....... never made sense to me. Josephs prayer opened Heaven once again and a flood of truthwashed away alot of confusion.

You can usually be eligable for re-baptism after 1 year....if you have abandoned the sin and showed a "mighty change of heart". If you have and your Bishop won't budge, see your Stake President. Your Bishop seems way out of line to me. If you are living worthy, do what ever it takes to rejoin the fold, move to another ward or stake. Your Bishop is still a man and capable of making a mistake.My neighbor is a former SP and told me that lots of times Bishops can be to "letter of the law, when sometimes they need to be more spirit of the law."

Ahh yes I remember those fellows well..... Jose could get me in lots of trouble:D

Normal Mormon.....did I read that correctly, you just RENEWED your Temple reccomend and you feel this kind of animosity toward the church? Do you believe the Priesthood is real? If you are still trying to figure out if the Church is true, how did you get a Temple reccomend?

It really is simple........the formula for understanding. Pray and have faith and let the Holy Ghost teach you. But you have already made up your mind. If you have a testimony of the Gospel then these things really wouldn't concern you. Perhaps that is where you should start.... find out if the church is true. Was the Gospel restored through Joseph Smith? Did he translate the Book of Mormon by the power of God? Ranting about whether or not men found it satisfying to have sex with there wives is irrelevant. Sex between man and wife is meant to be enjoyable and is not sinful. Wondering why women can't hold the Priesthood is kind of like wondering why men can't have babies.

Quetzalcoatl, the Maya Maize God, and Jesus Christ

Interesting title: Evolution, Science and Conservatives. First I would consider myself a conservative. I vote Republican, but am really a libertarian. I am socially conservative because of my religious views but allow everyone to live as they choose. I do not believe in Darwin's "theory" but do believe that evolution occurs and doesn't contradict my religious views. I know lot's of "conservatives" that feel the same way. I think their are idiots and morons on every side (liberal and conservative) of all issues and they often make stupid comments. Science helps me gain an understanding of the complexities of this wonderful creation we call earth, I just happen to believe that this creation and evolution and all true science proves the existence of God. As for political labels........ I once considered myself a liberal. I changed as my personal values solidified, as my understanding of the role of government evolved and as I got older.

In III Nephi it describes catastrophic events that occur at the time of Christs crucifixion. Events like Volcanic eruptions and cities being buried under water. Recently, past couple of years they have discovered ancient cities underneath lakes in South America and their is definitely evidence of Volcanic eruptions around that time in that part of the world. Don't have access to sources, but I will try and provide. I believe I saw some of this on Discovery.

So, does President Monson also have the ability to translate by use of the Seer stone or is that only available when deemed necessary by Heavenly Father? I always wondered about the Mark Hoffman deal and the supposed controversies with Book of Abraham.

Quetzalcoatl, the Maya Maize God, and Jesus Christ--Diane Wirth's detailed analysis of the possible connections between Quetzalcoatl and Jesus Christ in Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, Vol. 11, No. 1, 2002. Check it out!!!

"Echoes and Evidences of the Book of Mormon" is a really good read.......

Prison Chaplain, I agree that more has been done in the past 180 years. A bit easier for Biblical evidence since we know for a certainty where much of the events took place. But again, there are those who will not believe the Bible is true either, no matter what the evidence shows. It all comes back to faith and allowing the Holy Spirit to teach us the truth......I am still learning.

While the once-frequent jabs at Nephi's tale of finding Bountiful in the Arabian Peninsula have lost their punch with the discovery of a remarkable and hard-to-ignore candidate for Bountiful in Oman, other aspects of Nephi's story continue to draw anti-Mormon fire. One of the most prominent targets is the Valley of Lemuel and the River of Laman. Anti-Mormons recently have been proclaiming that no such river exists--a "slam-dunk" argument against the entire Book of Mormon. The attack is based on the following verses from 1 Nephi chapter 2: 2 And it came to pass that the Lord commanded my father, even in a dream, that he should take his family and depart into the wilderness.... 4 And it came to pass that he departed into the wilderness.... 5 And he came down by the borders near the shore of the Red Sea; and he traveled in the wilderness in the borders which are nearer the Red Sea; and he did travel in the wilderness with his family, which consisted of my mother, Sariah, and my elder brothers, who were Laman, Lemuel, and Sam. 6 And it came to pass that when he had traveled three days in the wilderness, he pitched his tent in a valley by the side of a river of water. 7 And it came to pass that he built an altar of stones, and made an offering unto the Lord, and gave thanks unto the Lord our God. 8 And it came to pass that he called the name of the river, Laman, and it emptied into the Red Sea; and the valley was in the borders near the mouth thereof. 9 And when my father saw that the waters of the river emptied into the fountain of the Red Sea, he spake unto Laman, saying: O that thou mightest be like unto this river, continually running into the fountain of all righteousness! 10 And he also spake unto Lemuel: O that thou mightest be like unto this valley, firm and steadfast, and immovable in keeping the commandments of the Lord! The critics chuckle that there are NO RIVERS flowing into the Red Sea, at least not anything that could be said to be "continually" flowing. Sure, a few wadis might get a momentary trickle during a rainstorm, but nothing that could be the basis for Lehi's lecture to Laman. Yet the Book of Mormon has Lehi and his family stopping in an impressive valley with a river that continually (year round?) flows into the Red Sea. Slam dunk for the antis? No way!(Jeff Lindsay) An excellent candidate location for the River of Laman and the Valley of Lemuel has been found in an entirely plausible location. Photographic evidence and other documentation is provided in George D. Potter's article, "A New Candidate in Arabia for the Valley of Lemuel," Journal of Book of Mormon Studies, Vol. 8, No. 1, 1999, pp. 54-63. Potter reports that in looking for a well in Arabia, about 8 miles north of Maqna on the Gulf of Aqaba, he stumbled across a magnificent narrow canyon that ended in a palm-lined cove on the coast of the Red Sea. The canyon actually has a small stream that flows continually, throughout the entire year, and is surrounded by very tall mountain walls. This valley is known as Wadi Tayyib al-Ism ("Valley of the Good Name"). The article is available to FARMS members online, but to see the photos, you need to read the printed publication. (Call FARMS at 1-800-327-6715 to join or purchase materials.) Meanwhile, I've received permission from author George Potter to display two relevant photos that he kindly sent me: George Potter's Photos from the Valley of Lemuel The River Laman The Valley Cove A 35 minute video, Discovering the Valley of Lemuel, filmed entirely on location, can be ordered by sending a check for $24.50 to: The Nephi Project, PO Box 300, Bear River City, UT, 84301.

Time, talents, our very lives........ I love serving in the Church. I know that I am serving the Savior.He has done so much for me and I am always excited to serve. I am currently in The Young Mens Presidency and I am the Scout Master and a Stake Auditor and my wife and I serve as the Young Single Adults Advisors. My wife is in the Relief Society Presidency and we really love being busy. I think the Lord keeps me very busy because he knows how very weak I am.

There was the black guy in Jr. high school that used to shake me down for lunch money every week and this giant white, red neck guy that used to take my OJ or desert at lunch. I think I was singled out because I was really skinny and these guys had failed a couple of times. I think there are always bullies ready to take advantage of whom ever they view as an easy mark. Race aside, bulling just happens. Interestingly enough I grew and caught up and surpassed then in size and they disappeared.

I often spoke with spirits when I was inactive, mainly Johnny Walker and Jack Daniels and a fellow named Bud Weiser.:lol::D:D

Mormal Mormon: Trying to glean insight and understanding of 19th century church history while peering through 21st century lenses is always going to provide us with a dim lit view of the past. My wife and I have talked a lot about these issues and always come back to the same conclusion. Namely, the Holy Spirit testifies of truth and Joseph was and is the Prophet of the Dispensation of the fullness of times. Brigham Young and many other leaders, Prophets and Apostles alike had multiple wives and had children by these multiple wives. I am absolutely fine with Joseph doing that as well, and even if I weren't, Heavenly Father apparently would have been. Sad really how the first thoughts most will have regarding this principle are to think about sexual gratification. We all know why they wanted more than one wife, don't we??? We are all taught and the scriptures are clear that the Lord delights in Chastity and virtue. I am certain that this church, the Lords church, could not have grew into this worldwide trumpeter of goodness and virtue if Joseph, and we have to include other Prophets as well, had fallen into some dark and immoral practices involving illicit affairs and multiple wives. One day,if we still number time by days or even number time at all, we will understand this principle and understand the Holy and Spiritual nature of it without injecting jealousies and thoughts of worldly passions. One day, when we are prepared........we will understand this and so much more. We will be so very different in the future that petty jealousies regarding how many wives my husband is going to have and things like "Celestial sex" or why can't women have multiple husbands will not be an issue to us. If it is we probably won't be there to find out anyway. Heavenly Father is a "Man of Holiness",his purposes and his laws are righteous, spiritual and serve a greater purpose. We as mortals living in this fallen sphere tend to react with our passions and worry and fear over things we are not ready to understand.Remember we are on a journey towards perfection. Eternal Life is the type of life that God lives. Praying about and gaining a testimony of the Gospel as a whole and especially the "saving" doctrines of the Gospel is a great place to start. Until the Holy Spirit teaches you the Sacred and Eternal nature of marriage and this principle of plural marriage, there really isn't any thing positive that can come out of over thinking it. Just remember that if were are worthy and live up to our Temple covenants and endure to the end, we are going to eternally experience and learn and understand things, Holy and Sacred things, wonderful things that our minds in this state can't possible understand.

As for archaeological evidences...... mankind has had thousands of years to uncover Biblical sites and evidences and less than 180 years to unearth BOM evidences. The evidences and proof of the BOM are written in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. If Zarahemla were found tomorrow, people would still not believe. People still challenge the Bible-evidences or not. If we are to believe only after seeing, we would not need to walk by faith in this life. Heavenly Father gave us the key to the mystery of whether or not the BOM is true. 4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. 5 And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

SLG: You are definitely not alone. Lots and lots of people struggle from time to time. I would put it all out there for your Bishop so that he understands where your at spiritually and how best he can help you. This isn't a sprint it is a marathon. Heavenly Father is more concerned with your direction, not your velocity. Remember "the things of God can only be understood by the power of the Holy Spirit" - Bruce McConkie. It is a wonderful journey, you just have to let go of the world and have faith.

First, remember the context of the scripture. The Sadducees were trying to trick the Savior with this question and he quickly told them that they did not know the scriptures. Through the Sealing ordinances performed at the Temple, ordinances performed through the Holy Melchezdic Priesthood, marriages are entered into for Eternity. The scenario in the scriptures was designed to trick the Savior. Faithful people who receive the Gospel in Paradise will have the opportunity to receive these same blessings of Eternal marriage. Yes, spouses die and people remarry. Women can remarry for time only as well and still be bound to the husband they were sealed to as can men remarry for both time only and time and eternity.

Bruce R McConkie wrote some brief commentary on the Apocrypha...........

The source for the above quotes are from Stephen D Ricks. "Joseph Smith translation of the Book of Mormon". Incidentally, he disagrees with the accounts....... as do I. Just looking for others thoughts.:)

Sorry, should have included this as well......... According to Edward Stevenson, Martin Harris explained the translation as follows: Joseph's brother William made a statement to similar effect in Wiliam Smith on Mormonism (Lamoni, Iowa: Herald Steam Book and Job Office, 1883

By the aid of the seer stone, sentences would appear and were read by the Prophet and written by Martin, and when finished he would say, 'Written,' and if correctly written that sentence would disappear and another appear in its place, but if not written correctly it remained until corrected, so that the translation was just as it was engraven on the plates, precisely in the language then used.

Hope you feel better!!