Justice

Every single tree you can see in the areas I mentioned have some damage. On too many to count, just looking in any one direction, the top of the tree has broken off and fallen to the ground next to the tree. It really is devastating to see. You'd be amazed at what kind of damage 1-2 inches of solid ice can do. Nearly every power line is stretched to failure. They are dragging on the ground.

If you're watching the news about the Eastern Oklahoma and Western Arkansas area where there is 1-2 inches of ice, and hundreds of thousands are without power... I'm there. We haven't had power since Tuesday morning (is now Friday night). We made the trip to my parents house this weekend so we could enjoy power and a hot shower. They expect that power will be out at least 2 more weeks where I live. So, I won't be around much. Take care and see you when power is restored.

I don't know how old he is, but I know how fast he is... Ben is so fast, he was born in a log cabin he built with his own hands.

The idea is to work the muscles harder when they are stretched and expended. It breaks them down and creates growth faster. :)

I seriously have my kids working on this... ...though I'm not sure they are as enthusiatic about it as I am. :)

MAN! I say marry her this INSTANT! Seriously... The first thing you need to do is address the pornography addiction. Sometimes we just need to be men and STOP. Find something else that you enjoy that doesn't chase the spirit away. You will not be able to address any of the other issues until you stop looking at pornography. People (including my wife) ask me if this or that girl in a picture is pretty or attractive. I say, "I don't know her so I don't know." My wife laughs and says, "Yeah, right!" Let me tell you something I've learned, who they are is far more attractive than what they look like. This isn't canned because I know women are reading, or because my wife might read. It is the truth. Sure, we can find some women physically more attractive than others. But, ALL women have attractive qualities. One thing that I find NOT attractive in women is that if they participtate in pornography. You need to stop the pornography and learn the other aspects of women that are attractive. Jacob 2: 28 For I, the Lord God, delight in the chastity of women. And whoredoms are an abomination before me; thus saith the Lord of Hosts. Those women in the pornographic pictures you're looking at have nothing for you. It is a trap. Satan wants you to get addicted to seeing women in this devilishly twisted way so it will ruin your chance at ever being happy with one. Forget everything else right now and do whatever you must do to stop the pornography. After you have done that, you will see other things much clearer in order to make those decisions. Oh, and STOP lying. That's what is keeping you bound to pornography. Let those who care help you. :)

First of all, that's simply a DARLING baby you have there! My wife recently went back to school and got her degree. Sure, it was a struggle for us, but it was something she wanted to do. When she started back our yougnest kids (twins) were 11. So, that's a big difference when compared to your situation. No one can tell you it can't work, but I would say that, for now, if you miss one moment with that precious baby, you'll regret it later. There will always be time later to go back to school if you want. The best advice I can give you is to pray. But, many times people don't receive answers to questions like this because first, they don't have their decision of what they think is best before they pray, and second, often you can take more than two paths. (Maybe proceed slowly with 1 on-line class at a time?) But, even offering the advice to pray, I can't help but think you will regret any time you spend away from that baby in the future. :)

Yeah, there are a lot of things that need to be discussed and understood before you can just give these answers. Does that mean that this scene is played over and over again in all the creations of all the worlds. That would mean that we aren't individuals. That we are exact replicas of another spirit in a different world. I don't really understand exactly what you're asking here. But, I'll explain a bit about what I believe. We need to keep in mind that "eternity" (where God dwells) is not the same as "time" (where we dwell now). It is very hard for us to have an eternal perspective because, frankly, we just don't think "eternal" because we aren't eternal in this existence. I believe that eternity is made up of "rounds" or "generations." All of Heavenly Father's creations (which He delegated the work of creation, which included teaching His children how) are for this round or generation of man. This same thing has been going on for eternity. As one creation (or heaven and earth) pass away, another is made in its place. That does not mean it is created by the same beings, or in the exact same place, or that it is a perfect duplicate of the one before. It means the same process is used to exalt man. Without getting too deep, that's what I believe. So, Jehova (Jesus Christ) is the Savior for all the worlds created in this eternal round, which are all of God's creations in this round or generation, which can't be numbered by man. We know that our Father in Heaven once dwelt on an earth like this and was glorified and perfected. His Son could not have been His Savior. If He, Himself, was not the Savior of His eternal round, then He needed one. Don't get too caught up on "Eve was created from Adam's rib." There are many things it can mean. It is very difficult discussing things like this with anyone. At some point you have to delve into speculation. It is then you should stop, study more, and pray intently to ask for guidance, ponder and pray, arrive at a conclusion, then ask if your conclusion is right. Nothing that anyone can ever say will convince you of truths such as these.

And, as to the main point of this thread, I believe very much the same thing as bmy- has said. As you head down this path with your belief, it will cause you to pose many questions. But, I assure you, there are answers. I searched for quite a long time for quotes on the Church web site. I found some close, like the King Follet discourse, but nothing clear yet.

Quick Sidetrack: Thomas always gets a bad wrap for this, but if you read the text closely it is clear than none of the Apostles believed... they all had to see for themselves. Luke 24: 9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. 11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. Then he met and walked with the 2 on the road to Emmaus, and they journeyed back the same night and told the eleven. 36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. 37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. Mark 16: 9 Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven evils. 10 And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. 12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. 13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them. 14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their bunbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. So, yes, Thomas didn't believe... but neither did the rest. The reason Thomas gets a bad wrap is because it is believed he probably wasn't there when Jesus appeared to them this particular time. So, the other "ten of eleven" saw Him and believed before Thomas. It is true it says "eleven" here, but I think to make the point that there were "eleven" Apostles now was more important. To say "ten" would have cast some doubt on whether there were actually 10 or 11. Only one died, and that was Judas. I think the fact that none of them believed the words of those trusted friends prepared them, and gave them understanding, for how hard it would be to convince others of the truth they would have to teach.

Actually, this is something few people really give enough thought to, IMO. A lot of people in the Church think that works plays some part in our Salvation. Meaning, that if we are righteous then it in some way helps to earn our salvation. This is a misunderstanding, and worse, false doctrine. Salvation is brought about by Christ. Christ overcame death and hell. All men were destined for death and hell, and it was our fate. Christ interceded. Christ overcame. Onetimequestion, what you might be missing is that Christ said He will judge us by our works. Works are required to show Christ that we love Him, and that we love light and truth. He will grant the salvation He earned to us by judging our works. So, to say we are saved by our works is a misstatement. It is more proper to say we will be judged by our works. Even though, when it gets right down to is, it makes works required for salvation, even if they are not what earned it. We are saved by grace, after all we can do.

I will look to see what I can find. However, I did not arrive at this opinion by reading quotes by anyone. I arrived at this opinion by studying Genesis, and the other stories of the creation. I did discuss this with a trusted friend and neighbor, who is the Elder's Quorum President in our Ward. He said he remebered that Brigham Young and other prophets taught that Adam was born of a mother. Maybe we can find something.

I don't think the navel classifies as a scar. I asked my wife, who is a nurse, and she said she didn't think it was classified as a scar (with no coaxing, I just asked). "It marks the point where the umbilical cord was attached," is what she said, which was the exact definition given in the medical dictionary I looked at. If it were a scar, I think it would heal over fairly quickly, and most likely disappear entirely. Again, this is speculation, but I feel Heavenly Father has a belly button, as do all men and women who have ever been born. If you think about what you learn in the temple, and even think about the temple garments, it seems a navel is present even on resurrected beings. I could be wrong, though.

God taught them about procreation. He used fruit, seeds, trees, and tilling the earth as symbols of procreation. There is a lot we can learn by how God taught Adam and Eve about procreation using fruit.

Adam was indeed born of immortal parents. The trouble is there are so many questions this opens up, and so many things we have not been told, that you have to delve into speculation at some point. In any case, logic and odds are on the side of Adam being born of a mother. Every person that has ever inhabited this earth has been born. It is the way we come to have a physical body, whether mortal or immortal. Adam and Eve both have belly buttons, as does Father in Heaven.

I agree, it seems that asking for your name to be removed is never right, unless youo don't believe the Church is true. If it is your intention to repent and return, then the only path is to let the disciplinary council convene. Then, accept its decision and work hard to be re-baptized.

And Sergg, Without the Priesthood on the earth there is no one to officiate in the affairs of His Church, the Temple, the Ordinances required, or to hold the keys of authority given by heaven to man. We don't believe it is an arbitrary thing, requiring belief only. We believe, literally, that a man must be called of God by prophecy and by revelation to have any authority whatsoever. So, it's not just a matter of "when did people no longer believe in Christ?" Many of the early non-Biblical writers offered commentary on when the last group of Priesthood holders, those who held keys, were martyred. It's not just speculation. Together with Joseph Smith's first vision, where we definatively learn that authority had been removed from the earth, we have a consistent story from history as well as revelation. I don't expect to convince you, I'm just sharing something I thought maybe you weren't thinking of, from our point of view.

I can't believe I've never noticed that. I knew about the approximate 400 AD date for the last Priesthood holder in the Jerusalem area, but never made a connection with that same situation in the Americas, even though I knew that date as well. Sometimes I wonder what I'm thinking. Thanks Traveler.

I'm impressed that President Monson sent one of his counselors AND an Apostle. It seems one of the Seventy usually accompany an Apostle.

On top of 2 Counselors, he also has 2 Assistants. :)

The official answer is that life happens between conception and birth. That may not be from the direction you're asking, and it definately doesn't answer your question. But, I believe if you know at what point the spirit enters the body you would know when it becomes life. It seems to me if the spirit entered the body then it received a body, if it doesn't, then it didn't. My wife nearly died with her last pregnancy (blood pressure got down to 20/10), and we lost the baby about 16 weeks into her pregnancy. I'm wondering the same thing myself, and the last and only official word I've ever seen from the Church is that life takes place anywhere between conception and birth. Sorry I couldn't help more.

Personally, I don't think you can. The only exception being that is a General Authority says something off the record, in a book, or in a non-Church meeting where he offers an opinion.

Sorry I didn't read this in time to offer any suggestions. Had I read it I'm sure I would have offered to prepare as you always do, and especially pray for inspiriation for yourself to know how best to adapt the lesson to your class' specail needs. Let us know how it turned out.

...Sabath morning, now we rest from every care! Friendly people kindly greet us... Welcome!

Discussions like this are impossible to resolve without the Spirit. If Joseph Smith ever said anything that was true, this is it: for the teachers of religion of the different sects understood the same passages of scripture so differently as to destroy all confidence in settling the question by an appeal to the Bible. So, if the Book of Mormon is out, and all we have is the Bible, then we're back to square one. It will endlessly be debated. Welcome to the forum.