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Ok let me back pedal a bit. I should have said "the current system that America claims is capitalism" instead of just saying capitalism. But having said that for a capitalist system there but be something to prevent people from becoming the "over-lords." I was and it's even worse now.

I found some pictures of that online. I wish we were presented with these stories. They could be so powerful. I think if presented properly these stories could be huge testimony builders. After doing some research about the "peep stone" and Joseph Smith working as a treasure hunter. My testimoney was strengthened. Joseph Smith definately was special. Couldn't the "treasure hunting" power be a special gift the God gave him to use the seer stone, to translate the Book of Mormon, and to do other things. If he had this power since he was young maybe he didn't really understand it properly before recieving the gold plates. Also about the Urim and Thummim vs. Seer stone. I'm not sure if this has been brought up before but maybe the Seer stone Joseph found we more attuned to Joseph, his brainwaves or whatever. The Urim and Thummim would have been attuned to another person. The seer stone was Joseph Smiths "personalized" tool rather than the "generic" Urimm and Thummim. So it wouldn't be about the power of the device but rather the compatability.

God must follow laws or else he would lose His power. God has power over this universe becasue He has power over the intelligences that are connected to the particles that make up the universe. If God were to lie or make an error the inteligences would see this and realise that they can now to whatever they want because God is doing whatever He wants. The intelligences would leave and go where ever they want and the entire universe would disolve. Anyway. It's the same as the could God make something too heavy for Him to lift. If God did whatever He wanted just because He is all powerful then He would lose His power. The reason God allowed evil on the earth is not because He is wicked or weak it is beacuse He is perfect. Only through allowing evil to happen can we progress. God's purpose isn't to create a perfect world where every one loves each other, where flowers fall from the sky and people walk on rainbows. God's purpose is to "bring to pass the imortality and eternal life of man." This means God's purpose is our progression to become like Him. Of course if you don't believe this then the entire thing goes out the window.

Sorry, I can't(right now) believe that God lacks any knowledge. In order for God to be perfect then He must know everything that is knowable. I do believe that He still progresses through us, His children. If God is the God of this universe then when His children progress to godhood they would each be gods of their own universes*. So this would mean God is no longer the God of mortals but is the God of gods. Similar to how things are here. A son becomes a father of children. Then his children have children and now he is a grandfather. His grandchildren have children and now he is a great grandfather. His family is increasing. I think it is the same in the eternities. * According to Super string theory infinite number of universed can exists parallel to each other. Like slices of bread.

What I believe about this is that God is the God of our Universe. Now a brief explaination of astronomy before we continue. I do this becaus ethere has ben misunderstandings in the past. Earth is a planet. Earth along with Mars, and the other planets that orbit our sun are called the Solar System. A large group of stars is called a galaxy. The Milky way is a Galaxy. Pretty much all the stars you see in the sky are in our Galaxy. The universe is the constantly expanding expanse that is filled with galaxies. I don't mean to insult anyone's intelligence it's just that I had a seminary teacher who called galaxies universes. He thus came to the conclusion that God is the God of every universe. Anyway God is the God of this universe. The Saviour's atonement is is infinite within God's realm which is the constantly expanding expanse that is filled with galaxies. So Christ's atonement is applicable to every person on every planet in all the galaxies within this universe. If it wasn't so, and each planet had their own saviour then if you travelled to another planet you would have another Saviour to choose from. Now the interesting thing is that this would mean that the Fall of Adam would also be infinate and applicable to every person in the universe. That adds a whole new aspect.

For me Communism and Capitalism are just different sides of teh same coin. In communism government overlords control business. In capitalism super-rich CEO overlords control businesses. The competing nature of capitalism eventually leads to a few sucessful business owner becoming increasingly rich. As they become increasingly rich they can buy more control over other businesses. As a result they become even more rich. In capitalism I am paid what my boss thinks I'm worth. Either way it's just another "overlord" determining what my work is worth. I don't recall Nephi declaring there be a tax. How did then the US government function and prosper during it's early years without an income tax? Taxes are the government's excuse to control its people. Freedom is not democracy. Democracy is mob rule where 51% of the population decide what rights the other 49% of the population get. Democracy is just as evil as tyranny. BTW, Tithing isn't a tax. Tithing is a way we show our obedience to Heavenly Father through sacrifice. God doesn't need my money, He needs my faith.

I am apalled at the direction the government is taking. There are much better solutions than having the government take over businesses. But the problem with the government is not the government. It's us. We are simply sitting around and letting them rob us of our freedoms and future.

No disrepect intended but I wonder if this applies to all God' creatures such as flies, mice, spiders, and other creatures we term as "pests." Or does it just apply to the cute, fuzzy ones. I just bring this up because most people I know, while they hate people being cruel to dogs, they have no problem squishing a spider or putting out mouse traps.

Are LDS men even allowed to donate sperm?

Yes, I definately agree that if you own a pet you take the responsibility of it's upkeep. If you're not going to take care of the pet then you shouldn't own it.

Yeah as pretty much everyone has said, the appropriate legal organization would be the best bet. I have two views on this subject. If you're going to have an animal you better be willing and able to take care of it. Second the welfare of animals is pretty insignificant in the grand scheme of things. There are people still dying from starvation around the world. Water sources are still being polluted. I think we would be better off if we devoted our time to bigger problems instead of making sure of the comfort of someone's pet. After we make sure all people in the world have enough food, a good home, clothing and an education; then we can worry about making sure every pet has enough food and a good home. Sorry, if that offends anyone. I just thing there are more immediate problems in the world.

As far as the gross vs. net tithing. I usually pay tithing on the number that is printed on my paycheck(net). Some say that you get services like insurance and things for the money they take out of your paycheck. Because of that you should pay tithing on the gross. I don't know which is right or wrong, I guess it's just a personal choice.

It's 03:41 here. I work overnights on wednesday and thursday.

Is that the new BSG or the originals?

Well anything that is set apart for a special purpose is consecrated. Consecrated means being set apart. When you consecrate oil it is being set apart for its purpose. I imagine God could perform the consecration of any object fairly simply not required the procedure that we mortal pristhood holders use.

If I recall correctly everyone who lives in the Celestial Kingdom(or is it the Milllenium) will recieve a Urim and Thummim that will be a single stone.

Anatess. That's crazy. I remember lots of kids using the F word and we would tell them what it meant. Another thing I noticed in the Philippines the Negro is not disparaging. It is used just like Americans would use "black person." Here if you called someone Negro you would get beat up. My word most common word used to be "Feck"(derived from the "F" word). Now I mainly use "Fierfek," and "Osik." Both a from Star Wars books.

Man this is a great thread! It's only nine posts long. There's so much good stuff. I'm going to have to research the seer stones more. Parts I like: Seer stones not supposed to be public. Seers stones are a Urim and Thummim. God uses a variety of objects to communicate, stones, sticks, balls, may I include papyrus(Book of Abraham).

Now I don't know the entire history behind the Book of Abraham. But one explaination I like is the the Papyrus was more of a Urim and Thumim. The text of the Book of Abraham was not on the papyrus but rather the papyrus was a sort of tool use to reveal the Book of Abraham. I don't think it is wise to pray for a spiritual experience on a certain date. God may have other plans than to give you a spiritual experience on that date. Maybe God wants you to search more before he gives you a spiitual witness. On my mission we had two very good investigators that did all we asked of them. They came to church. They read the scriptures. Even the way we first contacted them we miraculous. However they did not recieve a witness of the truth of what we taught. That doesn't mean that it's not true it just means that perhaps God did not want them to know the truth right then. Other times we must prove to God that we really want the truth by struggling through our search. Praying everyday for weeks months sometimes years before God gives an answer. We must allow God's will and timeline to happen and not impose our own. EDIT: We love questions!

Flat Tax. Isn't tithing a great example.

I think having the Bible Dictionary as a seperate book is a good idea but I would leave the topical guide in there. I'd hate to have to pull out the other book just to look up subjects and try and juggle books as I flip back and forth. God gave me ten fingers and I usually use then all as bookmarks when researching.

That was just the main part. You'd have to listen/watch the whole sketch to understand the context.

Isn't it amazing that god has given us every tool we need right out there in nature. We don't need nasty poisonous chemicals.

This is my first time to be incharge of a garden. Me and my wife live in an apartment but my parents are letting us do their garden for them. I also want to do some bucket garden stuff in our apartment. We just finished cleaning the garden and I finished digging a four foot deep compost hole.

I was able to attend the Sunday afternoon session with my wife and my parents and sibling. There were only about six protestors I saw. I was so excited finally get to see the protestors. Conference was good too.