Faded

I think that the interesting part is that there are correct answers to this and they are spelled out by the Lord in Scripture. The whole idea is to package them in typical "making excuses" models for pursuing sins. The real point of the survey would have been "leading up" sins because they are the little lies that people, especially youth, can use to lead up to greater mistakes. It's actually all a very clever ploy and it more accurately demonstrates what values the youth will struggle with the most. Based on the fact that sexual sin lead-up, and even rape did not make it into the top 5, one might assume that the youth taking the survey would be highly susceptible to all types o sexual sin because obviously they take things that lead to it very lightly. So a typical teenage Latter Day Saint from the group would probably avoid drinking and smoking quite effectively, but when he gets his girlfriend pregnant, that would seem like a very small victory indeed.

New question: All of the Epistles are Paul are listed in order of size (with letters to the same person or place kept together of course.) Which of the Epistles of Paul is an exception to this rule of biggest to smallest? A.) Jude because Paul didn't write it. B.) Hebrews because Paul might not have written it. C.) Galatians because it was actually written by Peter. D.) 1 Timothy because it was written to an individual and not a city. E.) Romans because it was more important, doctrinally.

I discovered that detail in the footnotes. Of course the footnotes of the LDS Bible only tells the tiniest bit of the story. There's a lot more to know. But it's a decent summary of the fact that the tradition of a "shining stone" existed in the Ark.

I think it's a survey that would be worthy of rewrapping and redoing. It would at least be interesting to see if we've improved at educating our youth on the truly serious sins. Seriously, murder came in 4th place?? Crazy. And rape didn't even crack the top 5.

If you read your footnotes in your LDS copy of the Bible, in the footnotes for Genesis 6:16, you will find the following: 16a HEB tsohar; some rabbis believed it was a precious stone that shone in the ark. We do have some very cool footnotes, wouldn't you say? Ogre is likely correct, both were probably present.

The correct answer is D. This is particularly interesting because by the description in the tradition, it sounds very similar to the shining stones that the Brother of Jared had while crossing the oceans.

D is the correct answer

If that was for Noah's "window" then B is not the correct answer.

My super-powers are temporarily on the fritz due to this thought absolutely blowing my mind. So these Seminary kids put, ""Smoking and drinking just a tiny bit, but definitely not doing drugs." as worse than rape? Wow!! :eek:

Here's one for you: According to the Talmud and Rabbinical Tradition, the "window" mentioned in the Ark of Noah was not a window at all. What was it? a.) A fish tank b.) No such tradition, it was a window c.) A breathing hole to get air d.) A shining stone e.) A nice piece of pottery that was a family heirloom in Noah's family.

The question is a bit confusing, but I'd say that C is your most logical choice and fits best into Jewish tradition the best. Was Baruch the 17th prophet or was it someone else? I know there's also the Book of Tobit in the Jewish Apocrypha.

My spider-sense is tingling and it's telling me that the winner was: "Smoking and drinking just a tiny bit, but definitely not doing drugs."You must include the full list of them later in the thread. I'm finding this highly amusing.

I should say that I agree with the underlying reasoning: "The worst sin is the one that keeps you from coming unto Christ and gaining salvation." In that sense, you are correct. But I do think that God views some sins as worse than others.

I think the important thing for the Original Poster to realize is that you have to start from being extremely close to God, such that he trusts you with a greater witness of Jesus Christ, and the absolute certainty of many eternal truths. As stated, the individual will have received a witness so great that they cannot possibly deny it. All such witnesses are only possible because of the power of the Holy Ghost. For instance, when Joseph Smith saw God the Father and Jesus Christ, it was the power of the Holy Ghost that made it possible for him to survive the experience. That would be one example of an undeniable witness, but it would not be limited to that specific type of experience. The person with an undeniable great witness must then turn from being highly favored of the Lord to being an absolute monster. It is not an easy thing for any person to receive a witness sufficient to even be capable of committing the Unforgivable Sin. It is unfathomable to me that anyone could turn into something so utterly evil after having so much light, knowledge and trust from God. No you do not need to be a General Authority to have such a witness.

I did miss one thing there that needs clarification: Dictionary.com (sola) Sola: (Latin) alone; by oneself (I'll assume we're not going to bother worrying about the "female" and "stage directions" part of it.) Sola does not appear to mean "highest" or "first" or "having preference to." It means "alone." Granted, this is not how Protestantism is and it is not how they have ever been. But since you brought up that bit of word play, I thought I'd point out that it doesn't appear to mean what you're saying it means. "Sola Scripture" = By the Bible/Scriptures Alone. The general idea with the word "Sola" is that it is not mixed with other company. Rather it is alone. Thought it was at least worth mentioning.

Good post Roy. It's one of those topics that members seem to inexplicably stumble over when it is not really that complicated at all. In the eternal sense, my earthly father is really my brother. So if I can reconcile that idea with ease, then I think it shouldn't be confusing at all: I can accept that Jesus Christ becomes our adoptive Father when we are cleansed by his Atoning sacrifice. Yes Jesus Christ is my brother because we have the same Heavenly Father. But consider this: I do not focus on my brotherly status that my earthly father and I share. It would seem disrespectful and taboo to do so. Likewise, I do not focus on the brotherly status I share with the Father who has spiritually begotten me unto salvation in this life, Jesus Christ. The multi-use of the term "Father" makes it seem confusing to a lot of people I suppose. I know it has for me from time to time.

While I cannot condone the systematic dehumanization and demonization of every excommunicated member of the Church, I'm baffled by your approach there Snow.You are claiming that Margaret Toscano is: 1.) A better person than everyone here. 2.) A smarter person than everyone here. 3.) Has a better attitude about the gospel than everyone here. You say you've met and talked with Margaret Toscano. Good for you. You've never met and talked with everyone on this forum. So I would submit to you that you don't know what the hell you're talking about by making such comparisons. The woman was excommunicated. I don't know all the details, but I know that she hasn't rejoined the Church at any point. While her attitude might be lovely (in your ever so not humble opinion), that detail strikes me as not having a very good attitude at all -- or at least not having the correct attitude. She may be good in many aspects, but she is not humbling herself when she ought to. Logic and knowledge often lead to pride and it is pride that keeps such people from admitting their errors and working toward re baptism. I sincerely hope that she does eventually do so of course. More than anything, I'm puzzled by your gallant efforts to insult everyone in sight over this. Why?

I compiled and posted it all in the other thread about Denying the Holy Ghost. Since I went to all that trouble once, I don't think I'll do it again. Magical copy and paste time: ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Here is a collection of what we know about how far you have to go to deny the Holy Ghost and commit the unforgivable sin. So a couple of quick checks to find out if you have committed the unpardonable sin: 1.) Have you received an absolutely undeniable witness of the reality of God and Christ? 2.) After having that powerful witness from God, have you turned wholeheartedly against God to the point that you despise Him? Do you despise everything that is good? Do you thirst for the blood of the innocent and are you willing to commit any such murder you can get away with? Do you seek to destroy and distort all eternal truth? 3.) Would you cheerfully crucify our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, laughing all the while as you pound in the nails, if you were given the opportunity? If you can answer all three in the affirmative, then you've committed the unforgivable sin.

Here is a collection of what we know about how far you have to go to deny the Holy Ghost and commit the unforgivable sin. So a couple of quick checks to find out if you have committed the unpardonable sin: 1.) Have you received an absolutely undeniable witness of the reality of God and Christ? 2.) After having that powerful witness from God, have you turned wholeheartedly against God to the point that you despise Him? Do you despise everything that is good? Do you thirst for the blood of the innocent and are you willing to commit any such murder you can get away with? Do you seek to destroy and distort all eternal truth? 3.) Would you cheerfully crucify our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, laughing all the while as you pound in the nails, if you were given the opportunity? If you can answer all three in the affirmative, then you've committed the unforgivable sin.

When did anyone ever refer to him as Matt?

If the Scriptures teach us that there is "the unforgivable sin" and that all other sins can be forgiven, then there certainly does seem to be a "worst sin." The worst sin is the one that you can't ever be forgiven for. That does establish one sin to be unequal. I think it follows that there are degrees of bad in the eyes of God.Mark 3:28-29 [28] Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: [29] But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: Matthew 12:31-32 [31] Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. [32] And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. A man who murders his entire family has offended God to a much greater degree than a man who stole a package of chewing gum from the grocery store. Both have committed sin, but there's a big difference between the two. I think everyone can agree that one is worse than the other. I think it would be a very strange God indeed who would count these two sins as equal. I'm amazed that spreading gossip is winning this thing. It's a bad thing certainly, but flirting with sexual sin and abusing the God given procreative powers is laid right out in Alma as the worst sin that we can commit (after murder and denying the Holy Ghost.) I know that one survey of this sort saw the Word of Wisdom violations win out over fornication. Interesting to see where the results will end up.

Sexual sin is second only to murder and denying the Holy Ghost. Flirting with sexual sin is the logical choice. Incidentally, when we were introduced to "For the Strength of Youth" I always wondered what the heck "necking" and "petting" were. Why on Earth is this verbiage used when nobody on this planet uses those terms to refer to groping and giving/getting hickeys??? Frankly, it wasn't until I was accused of necking for giving my girlfriend several hickeys that I put two and two together. "OHHHH so that's what they meant by 'necking'!!!" Petting makes me think of petting the top of someones head like a person might pet a dog. Again, not a term anyone ever uses. The leaders presenting FTSOY did not bother to explain much of any specifics of course.

Twas easy, I just picked the other notable pair of brothers.

Simon (aka Peter) and Andrew

False, it was Herod the Great. (Herod I). And Pilate was never a king.