justamere10

I ran your two posts by Jerry Ainsworth. Here is his response:Here are two responses to the comments made about the 24 survivors, as well as the 24 regiments. 1. The person is correct about Mormon 6:15 indicating there were 24 Nephite survivors of the battle of Cumorah, who were with Mormon, making him the 25th. However, in Mormon 6:11, Mormon gives a different count. In this version he states, "And when they [Lamanites] had gone through and hewn down all my people save it were twenty four of us." In this version Mormon includes himself as one of the twenty four survivors. So, there are two accounts. One which totals 24 (counting Mormon) and another which totals 24 (not counting Mormon) . The interpretation I gave for this conundrum in my book, The Lives and Travels of Mormon and Moroni, was that the idea Mormon was promoting was the number 24, more so than the number of survivors, as when he gives the second account of 25, he does so by emphasizing the number 24. 2. In my book, on page 185 I explain that when Mormon gathered his people together at the land of Cumorah for their battle of 385 with the Lamanites, he sent a contingent of Nephites away from the battle, into the land northward. Those that he sent away from the battle were the old men and women, widows, the infirmed, the handicapped, the retarded, new and very young babies, etc, essentially all of those who would simply be a handicap at and during a battle. Such a group would have number in the thousands, and to protect these less capable Nephites, he sent his 24th regiment with them. The leaders and commanders of this regiment would have been his less capable warriors and leaders. Evidence for such a group of Nephites, comprising the 24th regiment, can be found in the following: A. 14 years after the battle of Cumorah, (where there are only 24 or 25 survivors), Mormon had a battle with the Lamanites in which he was killed, (see Mormon 8:5-6), along with all the kinsfolk of Moroni. It would be hard to have a battle with the Lamanite with only 24 surviving Nephites. Few people would call such a skirmish a battle. B. The less than stalwart leaders who Mormon had sent northward, to protect the indigent Nephites, were the very people that Mormon met up with after the battle of Cumorah, and who were with him for this battle just mentioned, in 399ad, where Mormon was killed. Moroni 9:18 indicates that Mormon could no longer even inforce him commands with these less than stalwart Nephite leaders. C. In Moroni 9:16-17 Mornon describes some of the people who were being killed by the Lamanites, such as "widows, and their daughters, old women, and young childen, etc." These verses describe the very kinds of people Mormon had sent into the land Northward and away from the battle of Cumorah. They were the ones which he met up with and had is final battle of 399ad, with the Lamanites. In fact in Moroni 9:16 Mormon states that one of his commanders [Zenephi] even ran off, taking much of the provisions intended for the helpless Nephites, with him. This group of people were comprised of that last and 24th group of ten thousand that I referred to in my article. Jerry Ainsworth Jerry's popular book "The Lives and Travels of Mormon and Moroni" is available in many LDS bookstores, and online at the following link: Mormon and Moroni by Jerry Ainsworth

It's starting to appear like a dry run this time but may mutate over the summer and come back with a vengeance in the fall and winter. Hopefully this has been helpful to get people better prepared for a genuine pandemic should one arrive sometime in the future.

Yes, that's the human condition, we are required to "endure to the end" which of course for everyone could be the next breath. Even Oliver Cowdery and others who had seen angels (Laman, Lemuel, etc. etc.) fell away at least for a time. Hopefully none of them denied the Holy Ghost, which would be much more damaging to eternal progress.Sorry you lost your faith if that's what happened, I wish you the very best with your new purpose in life. (I write on quite a few boards and have lost the context of this thread but I'm assuming that you were once a faithful member of the LDS Church then fell away from your beliefs?? If not, please ignore my remarks above.)

I was wondering the same because if I recall correctly some of the last things we heard of this group was that they'd be meeting with I think general authorities?? (Maybe I'm wrong.)Anyway, I do not question their sincerity at all but they sure seem to have revamped their thinking and mission from my understanding of the way they used to present themselves.

I'm participating in this thread and a similar one on the MADB board so I don't recall if I was responding to a post here or not. Of course the order is for everyone in Mexico and not just the Saints. This is an LDS board so it brings it closer to home if we talk about impact on the Saints in general. One person wrote I think on MAD this a.m. that someone in his/her ward is ill and he received an email suggesting that ward members wear masks. But it was already too late to buy masks in his/her community, they were not on the store shelves. There are questions about the value of wearing a mask, but personally I've got my store in and will wear one if authorities say it should be done.

I think it is much too late for that even if it was possible. The flu is already within our own borders.Fortunately it is still manifesting in our nation as a mild flu. Maybe those who get it in this stage will be immune from the more severe stuff that could strike in the fall and winter?? (mere conjecture)

Your website is much improved. Good luck with your venture.

Today Mexico ordered its citizens to stay in their homes, as I understand the order. So, if that is correct, Latter-day Saints in Mexico are now not going to church, to school, or to work. I understand the need to not panic, but I also understand the need to prepare to live in our homes. If that doesn't occur in the USA this month, it may occur in the fall, or it may occur later in our lifetimes, but prophesies are that it will occur. (See the D&C quote at the bottom of this post.) Below is an extract from an article about pandemics that was published in Meridian Magazine April 30, 2009. Meridian Magazine :: Emergency Preparedness: Pandemic or Not, Are You Ready for the Swine Flu? You can and should prepare now for the possibility of a pandemic. Our government and governments throughout the world, the World Health Organization, and relief agencies worldwide all believe a pandemic is coming, if not this year, then soon. What we can expect when another Pandemic hits To help prevent the spread of the flu, communities may be quarantined - meaning you will not be able to count on out-of-town family and friends to help. People who may have been exposed may be required to stay in their homes. Schools, public transportation systems, all public events, government and private sector offices, even churches will all closed down. According to health officials, preparation means assuming that any or most of these conditions will apply in severely affected communities: Those who work in stores, who deliver to those stores, and who work at docks unloading supplies arriving from other countries, will also become ill or restricted to their homes. Many businesses will be forced to close because employees will stay home to protect themselves or to care for ill family members. This will mean the closure of businesses such as grocery stores and gas stations. Relief agencies, police and fire departments and hospitals will be short-staffed as employees and volunteers will become ill or remain home to care for family members. You will be on your own for most flu related issues. Outside of the quarantine area, businesses will close as supplies become limited. The stock market will close, bankruptcies will increase as people stop receiving government aid and pay checks. Prepare for disruptions in utility services. Pandemics are most likely to occur during the cold weather months. Utilities; electric, gas and water, all require staff to keep them operating at full capacity. Workers will stay home and ordinary repairs will become major complications as the staff will be limited. Power outages may last longer than normal. This may mean no heat, refrigeration, lights, and for those served by wells – no water. Without power pipes may freeze and break. Water may become contaminated as staff will not be equipped to monitor and control all systems and repairs. If we should experience a winter storm, ice storm, firestorm or earthquake which damages or destroys lines during this time, the problems would be greatly compounded. Communications during this time will become vital to your physical and emotional health. Government and relief agencies all recommend we prepare to care for our own needs. If your community is not quarantined but the flu virus is in the area, you will want to impose a self quarantine and stay in your home. Only with exposure to flu germs can you catch the flu. For this to be possible you will need to prepare now. "And plagues shall go forth, and they shall not be taken from the earth until I have completed my work, which shall be cut short in righteousness - Until all shall know me, who remain even from the least unto the greatest, and shall be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, and shall see eye to eye... " - D&C 84:97-98 We need to prepare. Now is the time.

Subscribers to the Mormon Sites newsletter Mormon Sites - rising from the dust... will be receiving Jerry's follow-up article titled "72" early a.m. May 1st, it's already set up and ready to go out automatically.

"SALT LAKE CITY -- A deadly virus is spreading across the globe. It first appeared in Mexico, now France, Israel, and the United States are getting hit. So far in the U.S. the cases have been minor, but it's expected to get worse. It's a public health emergency sparked by Swine Flu. That flu has already killed 81 people in Mexico and is now working its way across the United States. Sunday, Utah's top health officials were part of an emergency national phone conference working on plans and recommendations.... One concern is over-reaction; the health care system could be swamped by people with minor symptoms. That's why they don't want people to over-react. Be alert, they say, but don't be alarmed...." ksl.com - Plan in place to deal with swine flu in Utah

Here's an official site to keep track of the number of confirmed cases of swine flu in the USA. Scroll down for what to do info. CDC - Influenza (Flu) | Swine Influenza (Flu) Investigation Symptoms of swine flu include fever, lethargy, lack of appetite, coughing, runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, the CDC said.

Please explain the basis for your "feeling" and why the specific date, thanks.

And quite fittingly for this board, Fay Wray was a Mormon born in Cardston, Alberta. :)

It's probable that many Latter-day Saints online are contributing to the cyber missionary service. What I'm trying to do is encourage more LDS to take the initiative and get anxiously engaged in the work instead of just hanging around the usual familiar and comfortable online haunts. That's why I created www.LDS1.org. It is my hope that that forum specifically for LDS cyber missionaries will be helpful and fun to participate in, sort of an unofficial virtual ward or 'mission.' But we're just starting out and our numbers are few. I think quite a few members take a quick glance at our still fewer than 100 board numbers and keep on surfing. Maybe with time that will change... In addition to starting "Ask a Mormon" threads on non-LDS boards our sister board www.ctr1.org has a board member who seems very close to baptism. Because of the board he's going to testimony meeting tomorrow he says, instead of to another church he had been leaning towards. But who knows what good may come from potential investigators reading those Ask a Mormon threads? My personal opinion is that all LDS cyber missionaries should try to encourage readers to browse at Mormon.org - Home Thanks for your kind comments.

I think it would be helpful if more unofficial but dedicated LDS cyber missionaries searched for non-LDS religion forums in their own language and started "Ask a Mormon" threads. Then for every message posted, regardless of how toxic in may be, respond with the calm teaching of a gospel principle and a signature encouraging people to anonymously browse at Mormon.org - Home for more information. As it is in the physical world, it is possible for cyber missionaries to arrange with each other to work the same thread and provide a supporting second witness of their teachings. Such arrangements are beginning to take place at www.LDS1.org a new discussion board created specifically for LDS cyber missionaries to interact with each other and share their ideas and experiences. Ask a Mormon threads are sometimes hugely popular. One I started got more than 5,000 posts and 80,000 views. On another board my gospel oriented posts have been viewed almost 90,000 times. That's a whole lot of 'door-knocking' when I never even left my home! Any faithful Saint can do it. If you keep calm in the midst of strong adversity, intent on being a patient and loving Teacher of Righteousness, the Holy Spirit will be your constant companion and guide. The cyber fields are white my brothers and sisters. It is my belief that if you have the desire you are called to the work. Why not tithe a portion of your online time specifically for cyber missionary service? Just in case you missed the other thread, I'll copy below a recent post at www.lds1.org from an excited anxiously engaged LDS cyber missionary. ---- “I have been over on Facebook- group “All Christians On Face book” usually posting under a thread started by Jeff Stevens (i think I have his name spelled right?)– and it is interestingly enough titled “Ask a Mormon”! There have been a LOT of “hecklers” who post reams of anti stuff- but the administrators do a pretty good job of banning those who get personal or dirty in their language. — bless them! I have just recently had several posters say that from my work there, they have decided to look into the church, and one said they would read the BofM! Just yesterday a Jehovahs’ Witness has suggested that from my respectful posting there, that he would like to learn more of our doctrines! WOWIE ZOWIE! Made my day! So we are just inching into that. I wish I had MORE time! I wish I didn’t need to eat or sleep or shower or clean my house etc! (boy would my husband be upset!– but I AM blessed as he totally approves of my posting- but does worry if I let the dishes go unwashed for more than 2 days — yea– I worry about that too! ;/ and I work to NOT let that happen! May God bless us all in our work for Him and guide us in how we post!”

It's difficult to measure the harvest from the intensive cyber missionary service that is now happening all over the World Wide Web, but here's an indication. The following message was posted today on the LDS Cyber Missionaries forum http://www.LDS1.org: “I have been over on Facebook- group “All Christians On Face book” usually posting under a thread started by Jeff Stevens (i think I have his name spelled right?)– and it is interestingly enough titled “Ask a Mormon”! There have been a LOT of “hecklers” who post reams of anti stuff- but the administrators do a pretty good job of banning those who get personal or dirty in their language. — bless them! I have just recently had several posters say that from my work there, they have decided to look into the church, and one said they would read the BofM! Just yesterday a Jehovahs’ Witness has suggested that from my respectful posting there, that he would like to learn more of our doctrines! WOWIE ZOWIE! Made my day! So we are just inching into that. I wish I had MORE time! I wish I didn’t need to eat or sleep or shower or clean my house etc! (boy would my husband be upset!– but I AM blessed as he totally approves of my posting- but does worry if I let the dishes go unwashed for more than 2 days — yea– I worry about that too! ;/ and I work to NOT let that happen! May God bless us all in our work for Him and guide us in how we post!” GramaJane

You may want to go to LDS FAIR Apologetics Homepage to ask your question. The question is then forwarded to a list of well-informed Latter-day Saints. Some of them will probably respond.

I personally think that cyber missionary service is of great value. There's a new discussion board devoted to helping members get started as unofficial cyber missionaries. http://www.LDS1.org

Hello Michael, Is it your observation that the Simple Machines board software is better than phpBB? Or perhaps the other way around?

I appreciate your candor. Everyone has doubts and low points, some more serious than others. Ultimately life is a time of trial and testing during which we must learn to walk by faith, to keep God's commandments (as we did in our premortal life) without having Him visibly in our presence. We are told that we are even more blessed if we walk by faith rather than by knowledge. Rudeness is inexcusable of course but I think your experience on boards such as this one derives from the fact that there are so many members here who really do KNOW for themselves because God told them so that Joseph Smith is His chosen prophet of the restoration. Everything flows from that testimony. In my experience every one of the historical criticisms espoused by people whose purpose is to drag members away from their faith and their church is old and already responded to and refuted by faithful LDS scholars. There is nothing to fear, we stand on a solid foundation. God's church will not fall again, though even the very elect will be deceived by the miracles and teachings of Satan and his followers who consistently mingle small but potent lies in with the scriptures and historical truths. But ok, why not take each one of those historical concerns that you have one at a time and let your brothers and sisters help you with them? If you do not want to do that here, go to www.ctr1.org or the Ask a Mormon forum at www.lds1.org and we can continue our discussion there...

There are links here: Ask a Mormon - Book of Mormon Geography - Nephite Evidences • View topic - Assignment from Elder Ballard An easy way to provide a brief intro to cyber missionary work is to simply say: "Go to LDS1.org." The www.lds1.org board is designed to provide an easy basic introduction to cyber missionary work for those who have time on their hands and would like to proclaim the gospel online but don't know how to do it.

Yes, there is enormous unfulfilled potential among returned missionaries to reach out online with the fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to every nation, kindred, tongue and people in their own language. I think that is one step the church would do well to officially organize. Maya, a moderator on this board and on the Mormon Sites board www.ctr1.org also hangs around at www.LDS1.org where there is an international forum. She is translating sites and other info into Finnish and a few other Scandinavian languages I think, she's an excellent cyber missionary. She'd be interested in hearing from you at www.lds1.org I'm sure.

I agree that we should strike up a personal conversation with potential sincere investigators if we can, just as we would do in the real world. However, I seem to have more confidence in Mormon.org - Home than you do. That can be the final step for an investigator. They can even have a live chat with an LDS missionary there, arrange for a copy of the Book of Mormon or the Bible to be delivered to their door by missionaries, ask written questions online, etc. in addition to having some of the most pressing questions answered. (Where did I come from, why am I hear, where am I going. Was Jesus Christ resurrected? etc.) Thanks for contributing to this thread, no doubt you are a good cyber missionary.

Thank-you for your thoughtful response Tom, and thanks for being a founding member at www.LDS1.org. It's difficult to get a new board to the point where there are enough members that they take it away and enjoy coming back again and again to interact with new friends. But the church needs a huge number of LDS sites and blogs, especially those with the word "Mormon" in context several times near the top of the home page to overwhelm the anti-Mormon sites that often come up with a search of the word "Mormon." I had a look at some of your blogs. Your devotion to the Savior and his work is evident. Yes you are a cyber missionary! :) My personal opinion is that the best work LDS cyber missionaries can do is to help move potential investigators to those magnificent official LDS websites such as Mormon.org - Home and Jesus Christ, The Son of God where the Holy Spirit can reach and teach them. I think every LDS blog and communication should contain a signature link to one of the church's official sites. Doing that alone would make one a cyber missionary in my opinion. Don't forget that you can promote your own websites and blogs (even commercial sites) free at www.LDS1.org. That may help improve their ranking in the search engines. But please get those Mormon.org - Home signature links in place.... Enjoy the weekend Tom.

It has been quite a few months now since Elder Ballard started actively encouraging members to participate in online discussions. Although no official calls for cyber missionaries have been extended (as far as I know) some Latter-day Saints are reporting that they feel they have been 'called' by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the gospel online. Do you consider yourself to be a cyber missionary? As you surf the web have you observed increased LDS cyber missionary activity in the last six or so months? Do you have any positive suggestions that might be helpful for inexperienced LDS cyber missionaries who may be reading this thread? Missionary work is highly organized in the real world. Is it your opinion that the church will eventually organize cyber missionary work as well? Please feel free to discuss all things pertaining to cyber missionary work in this thread, thanks.