justamere10

The church is not extending official calls to cyber missionaries but if you have the desire and anxiously engage in the work I am certain that you too will become as close to the Holy Spirit as you may have been while serving a mission in the physical world. At least that has been my experience. LDS Cyber Missionaries - Mormons are Christians - How to be a Cyber Missionary Forum - LDS1.org - Mormons - Index

I didn't mean to offend you if I did Hemi. (You're usually very quick to respond.) I'm just curious about what you have in mind for Seventies who might be assigned in the future to oversee cyber missionary work. You've tossed that idea around before, it's intriguing. Tell us about it.

Other than offices, travel expenses, and maybe clerical staff I suppose. When I was there, the Area President in Hong Kong was a General Authority. He was provided with a furnished suite at the top of the new area office building. His counselors are "Area Authority Seventies" not GA's. They live in their own homes. Please tell me what you envision all those new Seventies doing that isn't already being done in cyber space?

Seventh Day Adventists don't eat pork either. It's a health thing, I think they believe it's full of worms of some kind.

Sorry, I don't understand your point.

I think there will inevitably be something set up for cyber missionary work. But individuals acting on their own initiative from their own homes are already accomplishing a whole lot at their own expense guided by the Holy Spirit. The Brethren may not want to mess with that other than to provide more training materials online specifically for cyber missionary work, and possibly asking one or two of the Seventy to watch over what's happening?? The church is already heavily invested in official web sites. I think the best thing a cyber missionary can do is move potential investigators towards those sites where the Spirit can reach and teach them. When I was serving a foreign senior mission the area president talked to me about being set apart as a district president. But I pointed out to him that imposing extra layers of authority sometimes dampens the initiative of people who are quite capable of doing things their own way and getting similar or better results. He must have thought that was a valid comment because it never happened. But whatever if ever comes from SLC I'll sustain it and appreciate the help. Cyber's a massive place...

There's a new board on the block. It's exclusively for LDS Cyber Missionaries. What do you think of it? LDS Cyber Missionaries - LDS1.org - Mormons - Index

I have seen quite a few Olmec heads in Mexico and have some small replicas in my home. Yes, they appear to have Negroid features but I think Dr. Poulsen has already commented on that. Some of the artifacts in Mexico museums appear to be Negroid. I also saw some ancient skulls in a small village museum in Mexico that appeared to be Negroid by the general shape of the head as I recall. Maybe they were slaves captured in Africa. :) I was on a field trip with Jerry Ainsworth once, working small villages for information. We began hearing about a large stone that had been dug out of a farmer's field a few days before. We finally tracked it down being the first gringos to see it. It was perhaps six feet high, six inches in depth (very heavy) and had the features of a man carved into it. Possibly Olmec? On that same expedition locals in several villages told us of a recent flood when the bones of "giants" were exposed along the river. As I recall, some of the Jaredites were described in the Book of Mormon as being very large when their bones and decaying weapons were found.

Jerry added the following brief note to the above article (extract): I am reporting what the Chief of the Hopi nation told us. I am not saying it is accurate, only this is what they said, and it tends to fall in line with the story of the People of Ammon. Once making the Chief's comments public, people are free to take issue with it, as they please. Many Pre-Columbian peoples assimilated a variety of Spanish/Christian concepts, etc, into their folklore. Trying to distinguish the fokelore from the fact is not an easy process, except for those few who seem to be un-detered by such difficulties. There is disagreement as to when Teotihuacan was initially built. I have heard these differences debated by a variety of archaeologists at Maya conferences during the past 25 years. Jerry Ainsworth Ask a Mormon - LDS Cyber Missionaries Forum lds1.org • View topic - Jerry's Newsletter Feb 2009 - Visit with Hopi Indian Chief

The book shown at the URL you provided was written by Barry Fell whose work has been pretty much discredited by scholars as I understand it. Those inscriptions probably exist, I haven't seen them, but the translation/interpretation is questionable.

Please explain the "crown" thanks.

My wife and I returned from an 18 month mission in Macau, China about three years ago. We worked under the mission president in Hong Kong and cooperated with the area presidency and missionaries. We had three branches in tiny Macau, meeting in the same location. Quite a few members lived in the mainland just a few yards from Macau and returned after meetings. I have seen as many as 12 adults from the mainland baptized at a time in Macau though we are not allowed to proselytize in the mainland. There is a temple and quite a few wards and branches in Hong Kong. The Church has excellent relations with the government in Beijing and carefully keeps all the laws and requests of the government. When we traveled to Beijing we were required to sign a paper that we would not discuss our religious beliefs while in the mainland. We did not do so even when asked. My understanding is that the church could register in mainland China but the government would have the right to appoint bishops and other leaders so the time is not yet right. There are many Christian churches in mainland China, some registered, and some underground. We have a few authorized branches. If I recall correctly two or three mainland Chinese missionaries were serving missions when we were there. One I think in Australia, one in Taiwan, not sure about the other.

I don't think many active Latter-day Saints question the location of the plates when Joseph Smith acquired them. It was near Palmyra, New York of course. Mormon gave those plates to his son Moroni about 385 AD. Moroni wandered for some 35 years after the battle at Cumorah. But most LDS scholars today think that Nephite events we read about in the Book of Mormon took place in Mesoamerica; primarily in southern Mexico, Belize, and Guatemala. It is most likely that Cumorah of the Final Battles was located in Mexico. There are two specific hills in Mexico that although unproven are favored by many to be the original Hill Cumorah. You can read a lot of information about the Mesoamerica theories of Book of Mormon Geography at: Mormon Sites - rising from the dust... Or discuss them with Drs. Ainsworth and Poulsen at: http://www.lds1.org

I was on the Temple Mount a few months ago and saw a well cap or whatever and was told that there is lots of water below. That was in the place near the Dome of the Rock which is most likely where the temple will be built. So, there's water there without doubt, but to fulfill the prophecy as I understand it, it needs to gush forth so much that it will flow into the Dead Sea and freshen it. At present the Dead Sea is receding significantly and becoming even more salty because the Israelis are using so much water from the Jordan that hardly any reaches the Dead Sea anymore. It's interesting though that Israel is now quite green. They planted millions of trees, seeded clouds etc. and changed the climate so the desert blossoms like the rose. Jerusalem apparently now has more rainfall than Salt Lake City.

The opinion of one amateur is no more valid than is the opinion of another amateur who disagrees, but I thought I'd express my amateur opinion here anyway. I've had a lot of years to go around the block, 40 of them as a Latter-day Saint. That still leaves me just an amateur on this subject but it is my opinion that America has already been pushed by our politicians and corrupt business leaders over a cliff. I don't think there is a recovery possible, we just haven't yet reached the splat part of the fall, we're still breathing and flailing around. I realize that positive thinking, hope, faith etc. are all valid and vital and I think everyone should continue to do what they can to help improve our nation's circumstances. But I'm also aware of prophesies of very difficult times to come at some point in time. I have never in my life seen conditions look so opportune for a world economic collapse, the introduction of a new currency as 'the solution' to the problem, and the advancement of Satan's counterfeit world government to the point where the Saints will need to be removed from further participation in the world's economy. There may be a physical separation of the righteous from the wicked. With today's existing conditions, in my opinion, anytime now without further warning bank accounts could be seized/closed and/or our currency made worthless and/or stores closed and empty of goods. It is my hope that right now every Latter-day Saint is focussing on emergency storage and preparations. Right now food in the basement is much more vital than cash savings in the bank, in my unlearned opinion....

I remain sceptical deseretgov but still interested, especially the way the signs of the times have accelerated in the past few weeks. So far most of the criticisms of your group would become invalid if our nation lost its cohesion, as is prophesied to happen sometime. (I think many people in North America are losing confidence in government and politicians.) Most of the negativity I think is because you have not established a connection with LDS authorities and your website lacks the professional touch and evidence of funding that one would expect of such an important entity as you present yourself as being or becoming. My guess is that there are quite a few members of this board who are rightfully sceptical, but also interested in yours or a similar organization appearing in our time. But I think you must prove that you have the encouragement of the Senior Brethren who would know better about the timing. Keep us posted on new happenings within your group.

For all it may be worth there are a couple of other considerations that I can think of pertinent to this topic. 1. We don't know how well the missionary work is going in the Spirit Prison. If the heavens will be open as I think they will be during the Millennium and the spirits of the dead allowed to walk and talk with temple workers to get their work done, perhaps the timing of the Millennium would be affected by the success of the work among the dead as well. 2. As Latter-day Saints we preach the fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, things pertinent not only to a Terrestrial resurrrection but also a Celestial. We are alone in having the authorized Priesthood and temple ordinances. But we are not alone in preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the point where it would lift someone from a Telestial state to a Terrestrial. And Terrestrial is all that is required to survive into the Millennium. Maybe the timing of the Millennium would include the work done by other churches and groups to lift people to a Terrestrial state of righteousness... We may be further along than we sometimes think we are.

I returned from a senior mission in Macau, China three years ago. Prior to that time two missionaries from mainland China had already been sent on missions. As I recall, one went to Taiwan and the other to Australia. I didn't hear that from official sources but I think it is accurate.

Where can I get a copy of your book? :)

Thanks for explaining, I misunderstood.He admits that it is "highly speculative" and as usual proof of the Book of Mormon remains spiritual, but Jerry has some ideas about Shim. Here's the last part of an article on Mormon Sites that Jerry wrote titled "Mount Zerin and the Hill Shim: This scenario therefore fulfills the two aspects of Chicomoztoc. It represents the seven families coming over in seven boats, and then emerging from seven caves. Part of my proposed scenario also assumes that the eight boats still exist in the caves of this mountain, which now is viewed as a very large hill. (It could easily be called a mountain) There is such a hill in the Puebla/Tlaxcala area, called Malenchi. This hill, especially the caves, are viewed by the local people as so sacred, that no one is allowed in them, upon threat of death. Indeed a number of people have been killed trying to enter these caves. I believe that the eight boats of the Jaredites still exist, and like the ark of Noah and the Ark of the Covenant, will at some future date be brought out of their “hiding places” and shown to the worthy public. I also believe that the hill referred to, (Malenchi), is the hill that Ammaron refers to in Mormon 1:3, where he tells Mormon: “Therefore, when ye are about twenty and four years old, I would that ye should remember the things that ye have observed concerning this people; and when ye are of that age go to the land Antum, unto a hill which shall be called Shim; and there have I deposited unto the Lord all the sacred engravings concerning this people.” (bold added) I believe it was this same hill that Ammaron used to deposit the plates of Nephi, and from where Mormon retrieved them. You will notice that Ammaron renamed the hill. He states that the hill “shall be called Shim.” I believe the name of that hill, before Ammaron changed it, was Zerin. I believe Ammaron changed the name for two reasons: a. It was no longer a mountain, but was now a hill, albeit a very large one. b. People probably knew the history and sacred nature of Zerin. Ammaron therefore re-named it so people of Mormon’s day would not be aware of its sacred nature and therefore not go into it to destroy, or steal the plates, and other sacred artifacts which are still in the seven caves of that hill. As an aside to this story I do know of one person who has been into one of these caves, partially. He saw the remains of a very large person, (the Jaredites were large). The femur of those remains was the length of - from his hip to the ground. About twice the size of a regular femur. And, the sad part of this story - the local person who took him into the cave was killed for doing so. The local townspeople never knew the name of the person taken into the hill, or they would have hunted him down and killed him also. Once again, as I stated at the beginning of this paper, this is a very speculative account of these pieces of information and of the Zerin/Jaredite story. But I believe it is an account worthy of discussion. 9-18-2005 As an addendum to this article I received an email from my ‘exploration partner” today which gives some insight into this proposed scenario of mine. The small village that is located by the entrance to these caves, is about half way down the side of this hill, currently named Malinche. Esteban just discovered that the ancient name of this village is las canoas,(the canoes). The obvious question is what a village on the side of a hill, where there are no lakes or rivers, and which does not make canoes, is named the village of the canoes. Is it possible because the village is by where the Jaredite boats are secreted? Book of Mormon Geography - Reading Room - page 5 Highly speculative of course, but nonetheless fascinating. On one of my expeditions with Jerry the local villagers in several separate locations told of a recent flood where they saw the bones of huge people sticking out of the mud. On that expedition we were the first Americans to look at a large carved stone found the week before buried in a farmer's field. It's quite possible that it would date to the same time as the Olmec stone heads??

Please provide evidence that the men in the Nicene councils were "old". (Just kidding.) :)

In addition to his book "The Lives and Travels of Mormon and Moroni" Jerry has written several articles about which hill's Cumorah of the Final Battles in the two Reading Rooms at Mormon Sites.Book of Mormon Geography - Reading Room - page 5

Jerry is aware of course of the suggested location of Hill Shim where the records were at one time. (Not the Allen Shim.) It didn't connect with me that your favored Cumorah location was Shim. Am I right on that?When I was at Bernal with Jerry I suggested that we go to Shim but if I remember correctly it was obvious from the excuses made that neither he nor Este would go there, nor would they go far up on Bernal. They had very frightening experiences there in the past and were afraid to go much further than where the armed Mexican guards stop vehicles from going futher up the mountain. Apparently Shim is guarded by locals with some terrible penalties for anyone local who serves as a guide into the caves. At one time Jerry thought Shim might be the mountain the Brother of Jared moved, I don't know if he is still of that opinion. And now George Potter is about to mess with the Mesoamerican theory with a new book about his findings in Peru! Fascinating stuff, it will be exciting when the Lord finally allows the Nephite library to be translated. Garth Norman has done some interesting research at the Cedar Gap recently and Jerry is now focussed on Utah. (Probably nothing connected.) Stay tuned to Mormon Sites, you never know when a plan might come together... :) Mormon Sites - rising from the dust...

Are you still of the opinion Larry that the most likely candidate for Cumorah of the Final Battles is a hill not far from the one Jerry favors?

The Journal of Discourses of course is not in our canon and we are not bound to it. It's interesting that critics and outright anti-Mormons always seem to know more about those writings than do active Saints. (At least the 'juicy' tidbits that taken out of context work towards deceiving others about our beliefs.)Could it be because our testimonies are not based on the study of books other than our canon? But welcome to this board.