Aesa

This is pretty interesting, Blood atonement - FAIRMormon.

No, it talked about people being sacrificed on temple altars because they had comitted sins which only the spilling of their blood could give them forgiveness. I assume that scripture is reffering to all blood sacrifice, right?

Have you measured this by percentage? Or by population 34 years ago vs. population 2008? That's an unfair representation.

This financial crisis is going to speed on to become more international. I see the U.S. completely breaking down, and once that happens so will the rest of us. Especially Australia, as far as I'm aware we owe big monetary debts to the United States. There are very few good financial experts (Ron Paul, who recieves awards for his monetary papers) who would tell you this is just a normal economic breakdown.

I see a physician (bowel related), dermatologist, general pracitioner and in the past I have seen a nutritionist and will probably have to again soon.

I think back to a film where I saw a quite lengthy section about blood atonement, it was called GodMakers II. It covered the use of blood atonement in the Brigham Young presidency period of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but in a modern context all it could cover were what I would call fringe groups to the extreme. A missionary told me to ready Alma 34 (not in relation to this subject) and as I was reading it I noticed something that really sparked my thoughts on Christ's everlasting atonement: 12 But the law requireth the alife of him who hath bmurdered; therefore there can be nothing which is short of an infinite atonement which will suffice for the sins of the world. 13 Therefore, it is expedient that there should be a great and last sacrifice, and then shall there be, or it is expedient there should be, a astop to the shedding of bblood; then shall the claw of Moses be fulfilled; yea, it shall be all fulfilled, every jot and tittle, and none shall have passed away. 14 And behold, this is the whole ameaning of the blaw, every whit cpointing to that great and last dsacrifice; and that great and last esacrifice will be the Son of God, yea, finfinite and eternal. So it got me to wondering, did Brigham ever encourage or involve himself in blood atonement? If so, what was the degree of his involvement and what does the official church history say about this? If not, what does the church history say and is this generally considered reliable? When, assuming the practice ever really began and isn't propaganda, did it end?

My "best," if I bought nothing new, would be white leather shoes, brownish denim pants, long sleeve black shirt, bow-tie.

I don't feel right about that. It's kind of like asking a complete stranger for renewal, to me.

Ohgosh. I'm not going this Sunday.

Ah, it's just annoying you know. Because it's like... I can't even keep count of how many times I've been in hospital. At least once during a birthday. And then I have all my friends who haven't been admitted to a hospital, even once.

Well ofcourse, but since the Book of Mormon is said to be scripture -- we can also assume that it will follow the path outlined in the other scriptures. Let me clarify, what I mean is -- nothing is included that would diminish other scriptures, so for example a doctrine that makes an already existing doctrine (not creed, lets be clear) do a 360. I don't consider "adding to" the scriptures as inherently incorrect though, when you take into account that for example revelation was written before the "bible" was a book. You're probably aware that I'm reffering to the "if anyone adds to this..." warning. Obviously it's talking about revelation and only revelation.

It feels to me as if I was born in bad health, and in all likelihood will never know what wellbeing is. Right now it's 1.22 am and I'm sitting here continually moisturising my arms because they're red and rashed from eczema -- my whole body is itchy, but not so bad. I'm on a skin medication for another skin problem that also dries out skin, so this makes the problem even worse. I have had a large intestine based disease since i can remember. I have spinal issues, thus my nerves don't work properly and thus everything is out of whack because my nerve signals are not at their proper level. It just seems like endless treatments which will never do anything. 18 years later and I've never been on more prescriptions.

Agreed, ofcourse. But it's a commentary because each translator has their own opinion as to how the text should be translated and using what words in what context. It's the same as something like the Qur'an which, in it's english form, is never disputed as a commentary. I always say that it's not the translation or the words, but the Spirit. You could read a version as rotten as the NIV and still get truth from the Spirit out of it.

Well someone who doesn't have it, has to be neutral, or negative.

I think I'd better do some shopping then. I don't wear white shirts. What sort of pants?

I've been considering going to a Latter-day Saint sacrament service. You know, just to see what Mormon worship is like. The meeting center near me, if you want to call it that, is really small. Wonder if there'll be any room for me. What's the deal with Sunday best? What does the average 18-21 yo wear?

Why do you suggest that? The only correct way, with something of scepticism is to begin neutrally. You cannot begin with faith when you don't even have it in the first place.

I couldn't agree more -- something I've always vowed to do when I've left home is to buy less clothes but better quality.

Ofcourse it doesn't -- but it does indicate that we should perhaps question the source.

You're right -- I simply feel that a child should be at an accountable age to bear witness. You wouldn't have a 6 year old prophet bearing witness, hypothetically.

It's interesting how tolerance is often promoted, by way of the exact thing being fought against. Christians are intolerant of sin, yes, but so is God.

Hmm, well if you want a contrast in clothes price. Yesterday I decided I needed some new summer clothes. So I went and bought two pairs of shorts and two t-shirts. The shorts cost $40 each, and the shirts were $30 for two. Obviously not in american dollars though -- you could take about 40% off the price if you wanted it in american dollars. At this point in the currency values anyway. I hate those things! I was so glad when I got my Visa Debit card. As a student it's fee-free, and it's my own money -- so I cannot go crazy and overspend, but I wouldn't anyway.

Oh my, I'm sorry I didn't actually know that my profile says that. But two which contradict, both came from his own diaries. [qoute]Where do you get "the end of the world" from anyways? What do you mean by the phrase? The Bible teaches the earth will be renewed and be inhabited throughout all eternity. Oh, well to be clearer -- Earth as we know it. Earth before the second coming, it is "the end of the world" when Christ makes His second-coming. I get the notion of the end of the world from the verse where Jesus says "I will be with you always, even unto the end of the world." [some people translate world as "age"]

They're not all his, but at least two come from his diaries -- and they both differ highly.

You're still not getting it -- Joseph Smith was one person, we're talking about multiple accounts written by different people. So that's a pretty simple conclusion really, Luke arrived later.Ofcourse I've studied them on my own -- but what's the point of a young person citing their own independent research? It'll instantly be dismissed.