bytor2112

Truthwalker, I think that the pursuit of truth is admirable and theorizing on giants and spaceships, dinosaurs and pre-adamites is a lot of fun. We just have to remember it is not doctrinal...it is pure speculation. The history of this world and other worlds and the War in Heaven will be fascinating subjects...especially when we learn of the reality of it all in the eternal worlds. Until then.....it's just a fun topic.

My wife and I were both Southern Baptists. Funny, the way we used to believe, it really makes no sense now. Our friend is a "saved" Baptist but she doesn't live a devout life. She believes Heaven will be really boring because all you will get to do is sing praises and worship God.

One issue for some is that we do not have a professional clergy. Some seek solace and council for issues that may not be strictly spiritual and feel that Bishops just aren't trained to handle all situations. Some also feel that because the Bishop may have been Brother Smith, the Gospel Principles instructor last month that they don't want to talk to him. Personally, I respect the office of Bishop and whomever is called to that role. My good friend is the Bishop of our ward. I would not want to talk to him about my past, which has already been cleared up by my former Bishop. I wouldn't want him to know those things, but if I were to want to talk about my past, even though the sins were resolved by Priesthood authority.... I might be hesitant to do so. I think that is a sticking point for some.

Pretty scary mosquitos!! From Revelation Ch. 9 3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. 5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. 6 And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. 7 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold, and their faces were as the faces of men. 8 And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lions. 9 And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. 10 And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power was to hurt men five months.

Um...if your Bishop asks?? Wow, that's faith. If President Monson said that the Lord required it, no doubt. Might be a little over reaching of authority for the Bishop...IMO.

As a member of the LDS church, we believe that families can be together forever. That husands and wives and sons and daughters can be forever bound in the eternities through sacred ordinances performed in Temples. Marriage is essential to the plan of salvation. So essential that I cannot obtain the highest degree of celestial glory without being sealed to my wife. What do other denominations teach regarding the family after death or in heaven or what do you believe personally? Are your children your children? Is your spouse your spouse?

The Atonement satisfied the demands of justice....on conditions of repentance. The Savior paid the price that all humankind may have life everlasting and opened the gaits that lead to Eternal life of which all humankind may obtain if we are faithful and make and keep sacred covenants.

No....I was just suggesting that the age thing, though creepy, would still be legal in some states. In the LDS faith, plural marriage will indeed be a practice in the eternal worlds. If my wife were to predecease me, I could remarry and be sealed for time and eternity to another woman and still be with my first wife in the Eternal worlds, just as those who openly practiced plural marriage and had their marriages sealed in the Temple. With regard to the whole issue, I would just say to quote a favorite Apostle of mine..." the things of God can only be understood by the power of the Holy Spirit." I know that these things are true because the Spirit has taught me that it is so and has bore witness to my spirit that it is indeed from our Heavenly Father.

Mike.....I completely understand. I believe it and am comfortable with it because the Holy Spirit has born witness to me that it is from God. It is my personal opinion, that God will not force anything upon us. We will have to grow and progress in order to enter in to this higher order of things. When will that be? Sometime in the eternities when I am a far different being than I am in this fallen state. It won't be about sex or lust, but about a pure and holy and sacred love that is beyond my understanding ...today.

The sacrifice of the firstlings of their flocks in Old Testament times from Adam forward was done as a similitude of the sacrifice of the Savior. From Moses Ch.5 verses 5-8 5 And he gave unto them commandments, that they should worship the Lord their God, and should offer the firstlings of their flocks, for an offering unto the Lord. And Adam was obedient unto the commandments of the Lord. 6 And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam, saying: Why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not, save the Lord commanded me. 7 And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth. 8 Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore

Was the Lectures of Faith ever included in the Standard Works?

Hi Ceeboo, There is nothing to clear up for me. Plural marriage was and will be again a sacred and holy practice ordained by the Father. Perhaps not in this life, but in the eternities. As for the age of consent post.....it was just FYI.

More from Elder Bruce R. McConkie: Now, the atonement of Christ is the most basic and fundamental doctrine of the gospel, and it is the least understood of all our revealed truths. Many of us have a superficial knowledge and rely upon the Lord and his goodness to see us through the trials and perils of life. But if we are to have faith like Enoch and Elijah we must believe what they believed, know what they knew, and live as they lived. May I invite you to join with me in gaining a sound and sure knowledge of the Atonement. We must cast aside the philosophies of men and the wisdom of the wise and hearken to that Spirit which is given to us to guide us into all truth. We must search the scriptures, accepting them as the mind and will and voice of the Lord and the very power of God unto salvation. As we read, ponder, and pray, there will come into our minds a view of the three gardens of God—the Garden of Eden, the Garden of Gethsemane, and the Garden of the Empty Tomb where Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene. In Eden we will see all things created in a paradisiacal state—without death, without procreation, without probationary experiences. We will come to know that such a creation, now unknown to man, was the only way to provide for the Fall. We will then see Adam and Eve, the first man and the first woman, step down from their state of immortal and paradisiacal glory to become the first mortal flesh on earth. Mortality, including as it does procreation and death, will enter the world. And because of transgression a probationary estate of trial and testing will begin. Then in Gethsemane we will see the Son of God ransom man from the temporal and spiritual death that came to us because of the Fall. And finally, before an empty tomb, we will come to know that Christ our Lord has burst the bands of death and stands forever triumphant over the grave. Thus, Creation is father to the Fall; and by the Fall came mortality and death; and by Christ came immortality and eternal life. If there had been no fall of Adam, by which cometh death, there could have been no atonement of Christ, by which cometh life. And now, as pertaining to this perfect atonement, wrought by the shedding of the blood of God—I testify that it took place in Gethsemane and at Golgotha, and as pertaining to Jesus Christ, I testify that he is the Son of the Living God and was crucified for the sins of the world. He is our Lord, our God, and our King. This I know of myself independent of any other person. I am one of his witnesses, and in a coming day I shall feel the nail marks in his hands and in his feet and shall wet his feet with my tears. But I shall not know any better then than I know now that he is God’s Almighty Son, that he is our Savior and Redeemer, and that salvation comes in and through his atoning blood and in no other way. God grant that all of us may walk in the light as God our Father is in the light so that, according to the promises, the blood of Jesus Christ his Son will cleanse us from all sin. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

I believe he is referring to the process by which the Saviors suffering satisfied the demands of justice. I don't understand how he did it, I just know that he did.....thankfully.

For whatever it is worth....the legal age of consent in most states is 16. However, some states like Hawaii, Idaho and South Carolina the age is 14 and in Colorado, Virginia and Connectict it is 15.

An exerpt from Elder Bruce R. McConkie: This sacred spot, like Eden where Adam dwelt, like Sinai from whence Jehovah gave his laws, like Calvary where the Son of God gave his life a ransom for many, this holy ground is where the Sinless Son of the Everlasting Father took upon himself the sins of all men on condition of repentance. We do not know, we cannot tell, no mortal mind can conceive the full import of what Christ did in Gethsemane. We know he sweat great gouts of blood from every pore as he drained the dregs of that bitter cup his Father had given him. We know he suffered, both body and spirit, more than it is possible for man to suffer, except it be unto death. We know that in some way, incomprehensible to us, his suffering satisfied the demands of justice, ransomed penitent souls from the pains and penalties of sin, and made mercy available to those who believe in his holy name.

Maybe God really used photon torpedoes to destroy Sodom and Gommorrah...maybe

Your saying that my saying that there is no salvation in believing a false doctrine could be false doctrine.....

I remember back in school I dated a couple of different cheerleaders...pheew, very, um... is hot appropriate, here? If not, please forgive..anyhoo...and a couple of others at other schools. As I remember back, if only polygamy were still around..dagnabbit all! I think many see polygamy as the opportunity for men to satisfy voracious sexual appetites instead of fulfilling a sacred command from Heavenly Father, who is the absolute epitomy of all that is Holy. I undertand that in the Eternal worlds I may have more than one Eternal companion, which is how my wife is referred to in my Patriarchal blessing. But, I am guessing that it won't occur for a very long time, until I have become someone very different than this flawed mortal that dwells in this fallen sphere. I know that it will be about a pure love and sacred holiness that only exists in the glorious kingdoms of our Father.

Brother Joseph....Seer of a New Dispesation by Richard > and W. Cleon Skousen is a multi volume work and I think a better read than Fawn Brodie's book. Or maybe, the Myth Makers....by Hugh Nibley...I haven't read this one, but I understand it is very good. I plan on reading Rough Stone Rolling, but I hear it has many mixed reviews. Some view it as anti others not so much.

You know, a lot of Evangelicals believe that the Anti-Christ will rise from the European Union and will decieve everyone and bring about world peace and establish a one world government. They believe that the church will be "raptured" just before everything goes crazy during the tribulation period before Armageddon.

Maybe I am missing something here......are you saying that some rebellious angels are coming to earth to reak havoc?? To over throw God?? If the scriptures are right and I mean the canonized scriptures,..... then to quote a late Apostles hymn..."I believe in Christ so come what may." I will say that the flying scorpion like creatures mentioned in the Book of Revelations that sting people and they seek death but cannot die is a bit spooky......

What if what's a false doctrine??

And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. Can't buy or sell without the mark ....666.....number of a man?? I guess I don't have wisdom because I don't get it.

Perhaps.. but the thread is "works required for Christ's grace?"........