bytebear

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Everything posted by bytebear

  1. Some comments about comparing a gay couple to a man who brings his "shack up honey" (Too much Dr. Laura?). I think a gay couple is far less sinful than a man who took vows and not only broke them, but injured and destroyed a family in the process. Most gay Latter-day Saints know that they are sacrificing an eternal family for an Earthly relationship, and that decision is a very personal one, and is not anyone elses business, honestly. Welcome anyone and everyone to church. When I was in the Cambridge Mass singles ward, we had a potluck dinner after every service, because so many singles came from so far away, and it was a way to socialize. Well, at some point the homeless around the area caught wind of the free food, and rather than turn away the poor, the church simply asked them to stay for services before having their meal. It made for some very interesting priesthood meetings. The point is, we didn't turn anyone away. And we shoudn't. Everyone is welcome to church, with the goal to prepare for the temple. and not everyone is going to make it to the temple, but that's ok. We shouldn't shun people from church just because they could not get to the temple right now. If we did that, half the church would be empty. Finally, when discussing homosexuality, just know that there are lots of different sins out there, and just because this is one that is making headlines, doesn't mean you are any better in your life. I find it interesting that not only is the following message in two of the four gospels, but it was repeated to the Nephites when Christ visited them. It must be pretty important. Matt. 7: 3-5 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye. Luke 6: 41-42 41 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 42 Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother’s eye. 3 Ne. 14: 3-5 3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? 4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother: Let me pull the mote out of thine eye—and behold, a beam is in thine own eye? 5 Thou hypocrite, first cast the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast the mote out of thy brother’s eye.
  2. I thought I would share the Doctrine and Covenant section that covers the dedication and acceptance by the Lord for his Temple. It is such an amazing event, that it is worth sharing here. By the way, there are newspaper articles of the time that say that even the surrounding non-Mormon neighbors saw visions of angels and heavanly hosts around and atop the temple. It is considered the Latter-day petacost.
  3. It's a good book, and I think you will enjoy it. It has certainly helped me understand the Evangelical side of theology much better.
  4. Interesting... Is it an increase if it is just to replace what was lost? If someone dents my car, and I have the insurance pay to repair the damages, what has increased? I don't have extra money, and I don't have a nicer car. Seems to me the answer is no, but I also think it is a personal decision between you and the Lord.
  5. To really understand both sides, I highly recommend "How Wide the Divinde?". It explains both the LDS and Evangelical view of grace, faith and works, and you know what? They are pretty much in agreement. It just gets mumbled in the debate. (oh, and visitors are always welcome at Sunday services, you can look up the locations and hours of your local congregation at mormon.org)
  6. Ni, but if the symbol becomes more important than the message, then it should be done away with. When the cross is more important than Christ, then the cross is being used inappropriately. The interesting thing is that the only real sybolic tool Mormons use in their daily lives are worn under their clothes as a personal reminder, not as a display of our faith. They are not meant to be a public display of "who the better Mormon is". And the cross should not be used determine who the better Christian is.
  7. The Book of Mormon discuss the Baptism covenant: Alma 7: 15 15 Yea, I say unto you come and fear not, and lay aside every sin, which easily doth abeset you, which doth bind you down to destruction, yea, come and go forth, and show unto your God that ye are willing to repent of your sins and enter into a covenant with him to keep his commandments, and witness it unto him this day by going into the waters of baptism. As to the comparison to Marriage vows, you are correct, but marriage is also a covenant. In fact, it is called the New and Everlasting Covenant. You are correct, you will not be saved by being baptized, but you will surely be damned if you are not. Put it another way. Not all baptized people will be saved, but all unbaptized people will be damned. You cannot believe in Jesus, have total faith in him, and yet refuse baptism. Here is an example: Matthew 19: 16 ¶ And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. Now, ask yourself: Did this man have faith in Jesus Christ? Did he believe? Yet, God asks far less of us in baptism.
  8. If we start preaching that those who do not wear them are not true Mormons, then yes.
  9. Do you really think that when you are at the bar of Judgement and Christ says, "Were you obedient?" and you say no, that you will be saved? Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. - Matt 7:21 Baptism is not a work, but a covenant. I would recommend studying the difference between the two.
  10. I would say the church speculated that the descendents of Ham were withheld the priesthood. And those speculations have been refuted by both early and modern LDS apostles. But, you do not need the priesthood to be a prophet of God. There have been female priestesses, and Joseph Smith was called as a prophet before he was given the priesthood keys. Elijah Able was given the priesthood, and presumably he was a descendent of Ham. There are simply too many speculative concepts to connect these ideas.
  11. Interesting concept. but even moreso, the Angel Moroni atop temples is not a requirement anymore than crosses are. Not all temples have the Angel Moroni, and they are still the House of the Lord. The point is, no Mormon is going to be excommunicated by having crosses or even crucifixes in their home or on their person. And I don't believe any Christian will tell someone who is "born again" that if they do not have a cross, they are not truly saved (although some might).
  12. "If a man have a hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray." - Matthew 18:12-13
  13. It is a great book, Rough Stone Rolling. I have two copies (Mom gave me one for Christmas a few years ago after I had already read my own copy). It can be found at any major bookstore, like Barnes and Noble. And of course there is Amazon.com. If anyone lives in Southern California, I will be happy to lend my copy (copies). THe concept of "folk magick" is covered pretty extensively and I think it was one aspect that helped prepare Joseph to translate the Book of Mormon. Oh, and the term U&T, although later attributed to the interpreters used to translate the Book of Mormon, the book itself, and the Angel Moroni only refer to them as interpreters.
  14. Ok, so I must really be a California native (after growing up in SLC, graduating from the U and moving away in '97), because I made Jell-o for Easter and mine was not nearly as fancy as the thpse pictures.
  15. When I read this, the first think I thought was, "Every member a missionary."
  16. Ok, so the author of the article is being a bit nit-picky. Isn't it called "University Mall" because of its proximity to BYU?
  17. I think Smith meant that he hadn't found a church yet that was "built upon the gospel of Jesus Christ" and that God would point him to a denomination that he had not yet found. So, he was shocked to find out that not one existed anywhere.
  18. And I take that bit of urban doctrine with a grain of salt.
  19. I looked up HC 5: 424-25, the referrence given in the Bible Dictionary. Here is what it says:
  20. I agree that it is debatable, simply because it is not clear from scripture or from modern revelation, but the one thing that makes me think this is that I just don't feel that lucky. That, out of the billions and billions of planets God has created, I happened to be born to the one where the only infinite and eternal atonement took place. I just cannot believe that I am that privilaged. I find it far more likely that each earth has its own fall and its own redemption. I find the alternative akin to the middle aged philosophers who belived the Earth was the center of the universe and all the stars revolved around it. Further light and knowledge told us that we are simply one small blip in the universe, hanging on a spiral arm of a galaxy amidst billions of similar stars surrounded by billions more galaxies. We are not unique, but we once thought we were.
  21. I do not believe baptism is a requirement for paradise. Only a belief in Jesus Christ. The Bible Dictionary hints that more is required, however. Does anyone have HC 5: 424-25?
  22. I think this article is pretty off. It says "In Salt Lake City, the headquarters of the LDS church, there are 10 Starbucks stores. In Provo, Utah, where Brigham Young University is located, there are none." But on our frequent road trips from California to Utah to visit family, we always stop at the Starbucks at University Mall, so I know there is at least one Starbucks in Provo. By the way, I get a non-fat steamer with sugar free vanilla or hazelnut. No coffee, no sugar, no fat and lots of wholesome milk. The perfect Mormon drink.
  23. There is a need for more than one atonement because I believe each Earth is populated by an Adam and Eve and each Earth is created perfectly, but must go through a fall. For each Earth which falls, there must be an atonemement made by a Christ. For our rhelm of existence, that atonement was done by Jesus, son of Mary. Since we have no knowledge or any other existence, all scripture should be considered pertenent to that rhelm. Infinite and eternal only applies to us, and our existence. One God and savior of mankind only applies to us. The sons of God who shouted for joy at the creation of this Earth are only associated with this Earth. This earth will be glorified an become the Celestial Kingdom but only for the inhabitants and the sons (and daughters) of God who are associated with it. Heaven and Earth are only this rhelm, and do not apply atronomically outside of our solar system. Does God have other worlds? Yes. Does he have children on those worlds? Yes. Are they the children spoken of in Job 38;7? No. Are they the ones who will inherit the Earth? No. Did they fight the great Lucifer in the pre-existence? No.
  24. Don't let the stories get you scared. Statistically, children are far more safe in today's society than you think. let your kids out of their cages a little. They will be ok, and they will be better prepared to handle the challenges that life throws at them. I don't think microchipping children will do anything significant. Most children who are sexually molested know their abuser, and the snatching by a stranger is so rare as to be insignificant. Better to teach your children self esteem and to know that if someone does attempt to abuse them (usually through manipulation and mind games) they are strong enough to stop it and to tell an adult. Quite honestly, kids need to be taught more about traffic safety than "stranger danger."