justamere10

The 'worms' were released a long time ago. In my opinion the sage scriptural advice to not cast one's pearls before swine does not apply in the cyber world. The pearls are already cast, all over the Internet! There's little that happens even inside our temples that cannot be found on the Net. I think it's time for LDS Cyber Missionaries to boldly, respectfully, and accurately comment on everything except those things we learn in the temple that we are told not to speak of. I think it's a time for the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth to be out. That way people can decide for themselves where they fit in, make valid choices, and take eternal consequences justly mete. Those who don't yet have an unshakeable testimony of the truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as taught by His Church urgently need to do some serious fasting and praying to get that, or they're going to be left behind as our world moves towards a separation of the righteous from the wicked. It may not be long before we start to see mighty miracles wrought that could deceive and lead astray even the very elect. We MUST have our own burning unshakeable personal testimony that God lives and Jesus is the Christ and that they speak to God's Anointed on earth in our time! And we MUST follow those Anointed Ones, the Senior Brethren of the LDS Church, as they guide and lead us into battles this world has never before seen. I think we are on the eve of or even in the frantic final days before our Savior's glorious Second Coming. It's OUR watch, brothers and sisters, Cyber Missionaries may lead the charge... That's how I see it.

I'm not a player, just an observer, but it was fascinating for me to become aware of Dr. Ainsworth an eminent Book of Mormon scholar out in the field exploring Mayan ruins, fighting off snakes, and dangling from cliffs. Then later compare what he is doing with Dr. Poulsen, another eminent Book of Mormon scholar who was 'FLYING' over the jungles and mountains with his Google gear. :-) In my opinion they are both, each in their own way, along with many others, contributing in a major way to the newly emerging study of Mesoamerican Book of Mormon geography. Garth Norman too has dangled from the cliffs of Jerry's Cumorah, though he's apparently working in Utah now, or was a short time ago. Of course, just to keep us obsevers on the edge of our seats there are others such as George Potter who are coming up with even more 'evidences' for South America! Don't put away that popcorn just yet. :-) Keep your eye on Mormon Sites - rising from the dust... it's often a good place to read all about it. .

Skepticism is healthy, but it's smart to keep one's eyes and ears open. Stay tuned, more records are scheduled for delivery sometime before the Millennium as I understand it, at least the sealed portion of the plates Joseph Smith had, and my guess is the entire Nephite library. The first time I saw Jerry's Cumorah my hair almost stood on end. It's an awesome place, a very high mountain that stands by itself more than twenty miles from any other mountain. It would have been known possibly for hundreds of miles around if it was close to a trade route. When Mormon cut the deal with the Lamanite leader to meet at Cumorah for the final battle they both obviously knew the place. It was made known very clearly to Jerry and Esteban that now (twenty years ago) was not the time to be on that mountain. They both almost lost their lives and Jerry was injured for life. It even snowed (probably never has before?) when they were on the mountain. I got them to go as close as they'd dare go, past the armed Mexican guards, but they would not go any further, they'd learned their lesson! Stay tuned... But you can read a whole lot at at Mormon Sites, it's a fascinating study though nothing's been proven: Mormon Sites - rising from the dust...

Someone should bring this to the attention of Larry Poulsen, I'm sure he'd be interested in looking at the site and responding on this forum.

I didn't read the whole website but what I did read is an interesting novel, a whole bunch of conclusions and not (so far at least) a single shred of evidence presented for them. I pulled out one paragraph from a quick skim of a page: "While traveling the group took a detour and went to see Cerro Rabon, a mountain near Jalapa de Diaz that many Book of Mormon archaeologists have reason to believe is the Hill Cumorah where ancient records are buried." Must be a different world I guess, but then they are not members of the LDS Church so they walk in their own circles. I don't know of ANY "Book of Mormon archaeologists" who believe Cerro Rabon is the Hill Cumorah. But then I'm often proven ignorant. I'll run this website by Jerry Ainsworth. He's in Mexico right now but I heard from him tonight. Maybe he'll respond on the Mormon Sites forum when he gets back. Dr. Ainsworth is almost certain that he has found Cumorah of the Final Battles, and it's not what this group has found. PROVING anything scientifically is the big problem. Jerry is hoping to dig up some bones from around his Cumorah and see if they date to about 385 A.D. when the final Nephite battles occurred. If that happens it might get the pros interested enough to have a good look. I'll try to get Dr. Ainsworth to respond at the following link when he has time: Ask a Mormon - LDS Cyber Missionaries Meet Here • Index page .

There is a huge amount of information about the MesoAmerican theory of Book of Mormon geography at Mormon Sites. You can also interact with Dr. Jerry L. Ainsworth, author of "The Lives and Travels of Mormon and Moroni" on their forum. Mormon Sites - rising from the dust... .

The FLDS are often seen in the stores in St. George, Utah. By appearance in general they seem to be a happy people, similar to others surrounding them. Apparently some of them from nearby Colorado City, AR work in St. George. When they arrive they change into 'civvies', let down their hair, then change back into their distinctive costume before heading home at the end of day. They're quite an enterprising people, I think they even have a school of nursing in Colorado City. A lot of St. George residents go to their dairy to buy a huge variety of fresh cheeses and dairy products. My experience is that they seldom talk to outsiders except to conduct business, even ignoring you in their store until you're ready to buy; but some of them might be more open.

Good one. :)

Even negative publicity is effective. It oftens drives curious people to the official LDS websites. Since Elder Ballard's three talks requesting that members actively participate in Internet discussions, there has been a whole new meaning to spending time on the Net. A lot of Latter-day Saints are beginning to feel that they have been unofficially 'called' to serve as LDS CYBER MISSIONARIES! I think that is going to pick up a lot of speed in the coming months as the Saints get organized and start "Ask a Mormon" threads everywhere there are Religion forums. You can meet with other like minded LDS Cyber Missionaries and even find messages that respond to frequent questions about the Mormons. Those messages can be copied, edited, and posted in your own name. They're on the new LDS Cyber Missionary Board: http://www.ldscybermissionaries.org Every member a CYBER missionary! .

All we need is more members to enrich the board for everyone. :-)

I appreciate your welcome to this board. There are about 20 active LDS writing on the Hannity board so it's pretty much under control. :-) Missionary work in China can only be done in Hong Kong and Macau but there are quite a few branches in the mainland, they just can't proselyte. The Church has excellent relations with the government in Beijing and carefully keeps all their laws.

Called to serve - as a CYBER Missionary! I sometimes think the admonition "if you have the DESIRE you are called to the work" is quite important. I was tracted out and converted to the LDS Church when I was in my early twenties, but already married. So, although two of my sons served honorable missions, I did not personally qualify until a few years ago when I had retired. My wife and I put our papers in to serve as senior missionaries. When she read the call to me and I heard that we were to serve in the China Hong Kong Mission, it literally knocked me off my feet, I'd been learning Spanish. :-) But we loved our 18 months in tiny Macau, China. A year or so after our mission I was again making noises to my wife that it was about time to serve again. There were valid delays but I was still anxious to put on the badge again. Until a few weeks ago when all that changed! About that time I became aware of three talks Elder Ballard gave, in each of which he asked LDS members to join in religious discussions on the INTERNET! Well, I've posted the story of how that hit me elsewhere but suffice it to say that although I haven't been officially called as an LDS Cyber Missionary, that's what I've been doing. I no longer have the desire to leave my home to serve, though of course if an unsolicited official call came I would respond. I've been writing on several boards. On one of the large discussion boards (Hannity) I started a thread called "Ask a Mormon". In less than six weeks that thread has attracted more than 3,000 posts, and 37,000 views! There's a whole lot of online interest in the "Mormons", and a whole lot of misinformation to correct. It is possible I think for any active Latter-day Saint with a strong testimony to unofficially serve as a missionary right now, without even leaving their home! I've written about my experiences on the LDS Cyber Missionary Board. Anyone who is interested in the possibility of being an unofficial LDS Cyber Missionary is invited, when there's a lull on this board, to meet others with similar interests, and discuss the idea on the LDS Cyber Missionaries board. You can also copy, edit, and post in your own screen name a whole bunch of great responses to common questions asked online about the "Mormons". http://www.lds1.org .

Join us in a discussion about how to Proclaim the Gospel in cyberspace: http://www.lds1.org

Dr. Jerry L Ainsworth (author of "The Lives and Travels of Mormon and Moroni") is now responding to questions and comments about his Swords article and Book of Mormon geography (or anything else) on the new Mormon Sites Discussion Board: Ask a Mormon • Index page Anyone interested in communicating with Dr. Ainsworth and others is invited to add that LDS board to their list of frequent places to visit.