bytebear

It is interesting that as we are more a global church, that apostles are called that are experts in various parts of the globe.

I am not a fan of the "It Gets Better" organization. It was started and is run by Dan Savage, who is beyond vile, as in I can't even tell you the things he has said, as they would get me banned. He is a rotten horrible bigot. There are far better organizations out there to support. Find one who does want to build bridges, and not burn them. He pretty much wants all Christians to be killed. And yes, he's that bad.

We don't distinguish sins into categories. One must be sinless to stand before God. But, some sins are harder to repent of than others, and some are impossible to bring restitution (murder, for example). And, one's knowledge and covenants with God also make it harder, because you have outwardly (via baptism) committed to live the commandments, and then broke the covenant. Same with the covenant of marriage, which is why adultery is considered more serious, and even more so if the covenant of marriage was done in a temple. But ultimately, our goal is to become perfected through Christ, which is a process of repentance, and making and keeping covenants (baptism, marriage, etc.). So we do distinguish between "saving" ordinances and non-saving ordinances. Saving ordinances (baptism) are required for salvation, and have promises that extend through the eternities. Temple covenants and temple marriage also involve promises of rewards in the afterlife (eternal families). Other ordinances are not considered saving ordinances. These include baby blessings (christening), blessings of healings, last rites (which we really don't do, but you may have a blessing of comfort), dedication and blessings on homes, etc. These are not required for salvation. Here's additional information that explains it better than me. https://www.lds.org/youth/topic/covenants-and-ordinances?lang=eng

Oh, and don't be afraid to bring up questions and concerns with the missionaries or other church members. Nothing you say will shock us. We've heard it all. And hopefully you can get a better perspective on some things that you might not find from a critic of the church. And you are, of course, welcome to ask questions here too.

I'm just going to give some advice, and let you do with it what you will. Missionaries come and go. The missionaries that are working with you now are special to you, and they always will be, but in a few months they will move to another ward, or go home. And you'll see new missionaries, and assuming you've been baptized, will have no idea if you are a new convert or a lifelong member. They won't know your story. But your ward family members will. Your friends in church will be there for the long haul, and will be your rock after you join. Use them as such. And it's wonderful to hear that you are already making friends at church. Continue doing that. They will be your rock when the missionaries go. As to telling your family. That's entirely up to you, but I think you should because secrets are never a good thing. And if they are concerned, tell them that you understand, but that they should look at your life, at your disposition, because you will change outwardly in a way that those closest to you will notice. So, tell them why you wanted to be baptized, what you feel when you go to church, all the things you are telling us. And I bet they will be happy that you are happy, and maybe they'll want to learn a bit too, just as you did. And tithing. I would say, if you aren't committed to it, don't be baptized, but I will also say, go in, with the full intent of paying tithing. Even now, set aside the money in a drawer or an envelope, with the full understanding that that is the Lord's money, and not just a savings account for a new TV or something. And see what happens. If you end up short on your bills, adjust, and if you can't adjust, talk to the bishop. The church has resources for people in need, both in terms of welfare and in job training and such. Believe me, the Lord will not hang you out to dry. In fact, He has promised you blessings beyond measure. Trust Him, and see where it goes.

From my understanding, they wanted to establish a community there, and set aside land for a meeting house, but it never came to be. This was long before they were CoC, but were still RLDS. I served my mission there 30 years ago, so it was fun to take greenies there tracting and see if they picked up on the street names.

It appears something like this has happened before, and not too far from you, Grunt. https://www.google.com/maps/@41.7515495,-70.6636462,18z Hey, where do you live? On the corner of Zarahemla and Nephi.

Our house lives in anarchy.

It's important to note that we believe that everyone is ultimately accountable for their acceptance of Christ. Ultimately they will have a choice to accept Christ or not. God is a just God. But God is also merciful, and Christ's blood atones for sin. For those younger or unable to understand the covenant of baptism, the blood of Christ is sufficient for salvation. For those who are old enough and capable of understanding the covenants being made, baptism is required for salvation. And it's still the blood of Christ that saves, but one must choose to accept Christ, and the outward act of that acceptance is baptism.

I love that we have "other beliefs" sections and instead of telling them what they believe, and why they are wrong, we let them speak for themselves, with the real intent to learn from them.

The guidelines on having two adults present is there as much to prevent false accusations as it is to protect against predators. More so, in fact.

People care about what they are told to care about. Would people care if not fed by the media? Probably not.

Only when it involves a president who is a Democrat.

If I hadn't heard about this here on this message board, I would have not heard a peep about this. This is simply not hitting the news here. At all.

Sadly, yes. Although I also find that on the national level, reporters (commentators) talk a lot more about what they hope happens (like impeaching the president) than what actually is reality.

Sometimes I forget what it's like to live in Utah. I live in California, and have for about 20 years, but I grew up in Salt Lake City. I have a ROKU instead of cable, and it allows me to watch pretty much any news broadcasts in the country, so last night after my local news ended, I switched over to KUTV (I think), and the headline was "first audio interview with the victim." Here in California, this is a non-story, as in, no one at all would have heard of it, or even cared. So, it was a bit shocking that the news was covering it so salaciously. It came across as more gossip than news.

Most people don't have a psychologist or therapist. Going to an ecclesiastical leader (of any faith) is often their only option, so it's important that church leaders at the local level are trained and understand their role and responsibility to help the member find the right resources. No different than a teacher, or even a boss. Their primary role is not to give counseling in any professional manner, but they can and should counsel people whom they attend to, supervise, whatever.

I think the concepts are very similar. Sin is willfully going against God's commandments. We are all born with the light of Christ, a conscience which tells us inherently right from wrong, but as we grow and learn, we gain more insight into what right and wrong mean. And as we learn of Christ, and gain more spiritual insight, our accountability grows. After baptism, we covenant with God, and that leads to more accountability. As we grow in the church, we have higher covenants, as a priesthood holder for example, a bishop, and one who has been to the Temple (a higher covenant), and marriage. So, for example, a church leader who commits adultery is under a higher level of condemnation than a teenager. Both sins are grave, but because one was given more light, he is more accountable, and would probably be excommunicated, whereas the other may receive a lesser punishment from the church (called disfellowship) where one is not allowed to take sacrament, but doesn't lose church membership. But ultimately we are working toward perfection, correcting our behavior, living more in tune with the Spirit, and leading a Christlike life. And we believe there will be a final judgement, where rather than being weighed on our individual sins (like a scale comparing bad vs good), we are judged on our character, on who we have become, and whether we are worthy or really able to withstand the glory of God. Our character, our very essence becomes like Christ. And we hope to be One with Christ. "Beloved, now are we the children of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." John 3:2

Well, yes, but I do think there are some caveats. For example, when a prophecy has an implied condition (which is often the case). Or when the NT apostles warned that Christ's return was any time now. Any time. And we're still waiting. And I often read the NT in the spirit of Paul correcting the misunderstandings of Peter or John, misunderstandings by the listener, more than the errors of the apostles. Or just opinion dictated as if it were doctrine. Paul stating that women cannot speak in church or that they must wear a head covering. Kind of like today when a prophet tells women to wear only one set of earrings, or that we shouldn't get tattoos. Good advice, perhaps, but not an edict from on high at least not one binding to the eternities.

Well, if Jonah can run from the Lord, and Moses wander the wilderness for 40 years, I can give brother Joseph and Brigham a little slack.

I would classify the fall of Adam as a necessary event, just as there was always a need for a Savior. All part of God's plan.

Mormons do not believe in original sin, but they do believe the fall of Adam created an imperfect world, and baptism removes the sins of the individual. The age of accountability (age 8) does not mean a person is sinless up to that point, but that God doesn't hold them accountable for their sins, so baptism isn't required for salvation (same with those whose mental abilities are below an accountable level). One must covenant with God in baptism, promising to keep the commandments and follow the Lord. Confirmation does two things. 1) promises that the Holy Ghost will be present always if the person remains worthy and 2) confirms their membership in the church. it is done by the laying on of hands (lots of good Bible references to this in the NT). Reconciliation is what we would call repentance, and for the most part it is an ongoing process and done via prayer and forgoing sinful behavior. Some sinful behavior is serious enough that an ecclesiastical leader may intervene, and the covenant of baptism revoked (excommunication). But Mormons don't shun, and they don't forbid the person from attendance to church, but they cannot partake of the sacrament, and if they repent, and "witness to the church" that they have truly repented, they can be rebaptized, and have their covenants renewed. Healing blessings are really up to the Lord as to His will, and the blessing is meant for comfort and to strengthen, although we believe in miracles, and that certain blessings are predicated on our asking for them. Because nearly all male adults hold the priesthood, it is not unusual for these blessings (and baptism, etc.) to be performed by the father of the home. As I said, the father is considered the priesthood holder for the home, and so pretty much all worthy men are priesthood holders, and the church emphasizes those who aren't spiritually prepared for the priesthood to align their lives so they can be priests of their home. This basically means following a minimum of commandments, attending church, paying tithes, obeying the word of wisdom (a dietary law regarding the non-use of alcohol, tobacco, coffee, tea), being faithful to ones spouse, or chaste if unmarried. Priesthood is not required for salvation, but it is a great blessing for one's family, and is required for temple marriage. Marriage is more than just marriage, but a sealing of family, both with spouses and children. Children not born to sealed parents are sealed to them in a similar ordinance to marriage. And we believe in proxy work for the dead, so we seal ourselves to our ancestors, and seal our ancestors to their spouses and children. The marriage covenant is also between spouses and God. So, husband and wife both covenant with God jointly.

One thing I like is that scripture that is canonized is reliable, but we still are free to interpret it, looking at the scriptures as a whole, which takes a lifetime of study and we continue to gain insight. I trust the scriptures. I trust most of what prophets have said, but not all of them, and so "false prophecies" don't bother me, because the Lord in his infinite wisdom always seems to get it right, even when prophets don't.

The true order of mustache is Wilford Brimley.