RipplecutBuddha

So now that God has spoken, he cannot speak further? What prevented him from speaking to Moses when he had already spoken to Adam? What prevented Christ from speaking of a new faith? That's right....nothing prevented it. Nobody can tell God to hold his peace. If he wants to tell us something, he's going to tell us whether we want to hear it or not. A great deal of the house of Israel didn't want to hear what Moses had to say. A great deal of Jerusalem didn't want to hear what Jesus had to say. Were they wrong in saying it? There is no part of the Bible that states it is the complete word of God. Why? Because the books that comprise the bible weren't assembled until centuries after they were written...the authors of the books of the Bible certainly believed in continuing revelation from God. That's how the books were written. We would not have a Bible at all were it not for ongoing revelation from God.

When we choose a path, we also choose the end of that path. Each of our decisions has consequences, and many of those consequences have nothing at all to do with this life. Abortion is a very serious decision that is not often made with eternal consequences in mind. When it is considered seriously, the deliberations are heart-wrenching. For my part, I would never encourage a woman to have an abortion unless three or more seriously experienced physicians advised it, and even then I would need confirmation through prayer that it was the correct decision. Having said that, there are other serious decisions I've made in my life that I didn't consider anywhere near long enough before pulling the trigger on a boneheaded choice. In the end I am grateful for a loving Heavenly Father that allows us to live as we decide even though He knows what pain we cause ourselves in the process. Sometimes it's the only way we learn.

what puzzles me, in regards to the OP, is why protests managed to get Maxim magazine banned from all wal-mart stores, but Cosmo is still there, and back on full display. Maxim's covers, while clearly geared for the male audience it targets, have never been as verbally graphic as Cosmo has been for decades, yet Cosmo gets a pass.....Double standards are painful sometimes.

Maybe I should try getting a ridiculous loan on a ferarri.....

Ah, the two-edged sword of wikileaks....

You think we have it rough over the issue of shoulders? What about when the garments were first started, and the only style available was to the wrists and ankles? The fact is forgotten all too often that we are not in charge here, and it isn't all about us. We're here to learn how to let go of our selfishness. God set the standard where it is for a reason, and he even relaxed it a bit from where it began. Pretty generous if you ask me. I can't think of another instance where God gave some ground on a standard. The line has to be somewhere, and right now the line is at the shoulders and knees.

I saw it. I liked it for some creative entertainment. While it's true they could have gone soo differently with it, the fact is not too many sequels live up to the first film anyway, so the letdown was anticipated no matter what. Go ahead and watch it, though watching the first one will help greatly with the storyline, as well as appreciate that in the original film, the animation techiniques required each frame of film to be composed of at least 17 separate images/layers. Animation has come a long long way.

Good group of questions. Here we go. 1. Honesty. I also like the previous answer given ( charity ) but I couldn't very well pick it again 2. The title of Elder is an office within the Melchezidek Priesthood. Males are traditionally ordained to the office at age 18 or 19. 3. Males in the church age 12 begin the first step of holding what we call the priesthood. In time, and according to the individual's worthiness, he is ordained to the office of Elder. 4. Yes. Salvation is understood somewhat differently in the LDS church than protestant religions. In the LDS faith we believe, as protestants do, that Salvation is a free gift to all mankind. However, we also believe that the term Exaltation refers to a yet higher state that we can attain, based upon our obedience to Christ and His teachings. This belief about exaltation is unique to the LDS church so far as I can tell. So to answer your question completely, You definitely will recieve Salvation, however to recieve Exaltation, you must accept Christ (and by connection, God) and obey his will. 5. I believe the LDS church is absolutely Christian. However we are unique in that we are a restorative Christian faith rather than a protestant Christian faith. 6. Sons of Perdition are those who reject the Salvation that is given them. We believe that very few people will ultimately become Sons of Perdition. 7. Yes, Outer Darkness will be the destination for the Sons of Perdition, and it is equivalent to the protestant idea of Hell. On what was necessary to become a Son of Perdition, Joseph Smith once said that 'A man must deny the existence of the noonday sun while it is shining upon his face.' To place it in religious terms, one must deny the existence of God while in God's very presence, or after having been in God's very presence. 8. Several prophecies of Joseph Smith have indicated that the land of the United States has been an important place in religious history, and that it yet will play an important role in the fulfillment of several events pertinent to the second coming of Christ. For my part, it is a very serious religious area due to the early church, and the events surrounding the founding of the religion as well as the events leading up to, and including the great migration to Salt Lake. 8. Polygamy, when commanded by God, is a righteous practice. When it is not commanded by God, it is forbidden. Consider this, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all had more than one wife. Clearly God accepted the practice at that time. However in the NT, it is forbidden. Now in today's era, it's happened the same way. Joseph Smith was commanded to establish the practice, and Wilford Woodruff was commanded to bring it to an end. As to how I feel about it being practiced today, I don't begrudge them the right to worship God as they please, however I do wish they would cease attempting to claim they are still part of the LDS church.

very soon, many of these people will look quite silly. It won't get better until after 2013 I fear.

I read a headline somewhere that Bin Laden's remains were buried at sea after confirmation of identification was made. Seems the fish will be the last to deal with him now. As for the Martyr aspect, any other time would be cause for concern. With all the other turmoil going on in the middle east as it is though, I'm unsure that any leader could use his death to regenerate the groundswell that Osama (Usama??) created. Also remember how long it took. After years of attacks against US interests abroad, and with the Federal gov't playing it down the whole time, I think that if any other movement starts, we'll be watching a little closer from now on.

Cow can this be happening?? It's udderly shocking...someone horning in on another's turf. I'd chuck a bell at the intruder, or at least steak them to the spot and let 'em know I had a beef with their unamoosing actions. (I have more, but I don't want an entire website of enemies....)

fwiw, both my parents were baptized in a river...not the same river though.

Why are we so concerned for the humane nature of capitol punishment?? Was public stoning in the OT expressly humane?? I happen to think a firing squad is just fine. The measure of pain the guilty feels is still a minute fraction of the pain he/she has caused by their actions. I happen to think they are getting off easy. My idea of true capitol punishment is making the guilty pay for the support of the survivors of their crimes, but I come from a different philosophy. As for the exocution of innocents, yes it is horrible, but here's the thing, nothing in this world is perfect, and God knew about this specific problem a long time ago. I guarantee he's got a way to set things right in those cases. We have to enforce laws to protect the citizens. Mistakes will be made in that process. God's got our back on this.

it depends upon what your definition of 'delivered' is. It could mean a release from immediate harm or danger. It could mean a forgiveness (thus a release) of ones sins. It could mean a release from mortal life. It could even mean the power to release others from their sins (as in the case of Jesus Christ)

I would just like to focus on this part of your statement for now; Quick summary: LDS God is made of matter, is potentially infinite (his progression does not cease) but he is not actually infinite. The triune God on the other hand is actually infinite, and not made of matter but the source of it. Here's my question, how can something exist if it's not made of matter? Even our emotions and thoughts have substance as electro-chemical reactions within our minds. Yet further, how can nothing Be the source of anything? I understand that the triune God is one that exists outside our normal expectations of reality and existence, however Jesus did say that "This is life eternal that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent." (John 17:3) The root of my question would then be this; If eternal life is expressly dependant upon our understanding of, or knowledge of, the one true God of creation, how then are we to lay hold upon that eternal life if the God in question exists outside our capacity to understand? Would that not thus place eternal life forever beyond our reach? Conversely, if we look at the existence of the LDS idea of God, we see a supreme being to whom we owe our very existence (just as with the triune God), however the existence is one with which we have an immediate understanding, in principle at least. When the bible then says that we were created in God's image, and after his likeness, we can state that it is exactly what is being said. Believing that God has a physical body should not lead to any lessening of his power, perfection, or glory. For my own part, why should I posess something God does not have? (meaning a physical body) To conclude, I am grateful to know people who are sincere followers of Christ, whatever the specific denomination. So long as we focus on following in His footsteps, we cannot fail to please Him.

as long as she only left hoofprints.....

1. Not at all because the Church is firmly set to obey the laws of every nation in which it is located. If we claim such a stance, we must stand by it consistently. 2. People are imperfect no matter what calling they hold. I had a bishop who was unemployed three times. Life happens. 3. Nope. 4. What happened to #4??? 5. Mercy cannot rob justice. It is an eternal principle. I am absolutely in favor of legal immigration from wherever people may come from. However, if their desire is to enjoy living in a nation that allows greater freedom than the nation of their birth, then it is only common sense that they must honor the laws that provide and protect that freedom for its citizens. To flaunt the law in order to get the benefits of the law is hypocritical and contradictory in very thought.

Somehow I was able to override the mountain of apathy I have for survivor just enough to post here...ever since the first season, I just can't bring myself to watch any of it.

I agree. I would have simply said that I won't lie because a) it's wrong in basic principle b) In this situation, it could be very dangerous, and people's lives could be at risk. While it's one thing to lie on a report that you cleaned the restrooms, and another to lie on a vehicle inspection report, it's best to draw the line where the Lord put it...just don't start lying at all.

An interesting thing about confirmation that President Packer brought up recently. We aren't given the gift of the Holy Ghost upon confirmation, but we are commanded to 'Recieve the Holy Ghost'. The significance lay in the fact that the Holy Ghost may not come to us at that moment. We are still responsible through our conduct to maintain a state of worthiness and preparedness for hearing the Holy Ghost. As for the influence, I have heard it described as similar to sunlight. While the sun is a very real object quite far from us, its influence is readily experienced as one walks outside on a warm summer day, or even as sunlight enters a home through a window. If we want to feel the Holy Ghost, we have to put ourselves in a situation where we are in the proper attitude to feel it. It's always there, but we may just be in the shade, as it were.

what shocked me was how small the San Diego temple is compared to how large it appears in photographs. It's still a fairly large building nevermind not having a large assembly room. It's also the only temple that allows you to see the statue of Moroni from inside. I still very much want to see the SLC and DC temples though. Haven't been in either one yet.

Allow me to quote from The Book of Mormon-The Earliest Text edited by Royal Skousen. This part comes from the introduction, and explains the situation far better than I could "The first six books, from the first book of Nephi through the book of Omni, constitute the small plates of Nephi, an eyewitness account of the first generations of the Nephites that was written on thin metal plates. Mormon, the much later editor, then interrupts with the Words of Mormon to explain that he has added this intependant, first person document to his own comprehensive abridgement of the large plates of Nephi, another set of thin metal plates but more of them. These more extensive plates consist of the book of Mosiah and four subsequent books (from the book of Alma to the fourth book of Nephi) and end with Mormon's own autobiography, the book of Mormon (a separate book within the book of Mormon). At the eighth chapter of this autobiography, Moroni takes over his father's record and finishes it. Then at the end he adds his own book to the record (the book of Moroni), yet only after writing anabbreviate history of a pre-Hebraic people, the Jaredites, who had been led to the New World from the tower of Babel and had subsequently destroyed themselves...(in the book of Ether.) So we have three main narrators, Nephi, Mormon, and his son Moroni. In the Bulk of Mormon's abridgement (As well as in Moroni's work in the book of Ether) he quotes the authors and writers often, so we get to hear their voices as well. A useful comparison would be if Paul had edited the four Gospels and Acts in the New Testament. I hope this helps

I served a mission in California. The only thing that I had to worry about was money for doing laundry, and grocery shopping.....for two years....the experience was one of the most intense periods of personal growth of my life, and I'm still learning from it today. Add to that the joy of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ; the chance to take something that gives our lives meaning and purpose, and share that with others and watch them experience the same wonders and joys. There is nothing a single man or woman can do in this life that is more rewarding than serving God.

Short answer to the OP title....The LDS Church does not recognize any conflicts between the Bible and what it teaches as doctrine. Otherwise, it would not use the Bible and recognize it as sacred scripture. However...it is clear there are conflicts between what the LDS Church teaches as biblical doctrine, and what other religions teach as biblical doctrine. This is not an unexpected situation, nor is it a problem from the LDS perspective. Allow me to quote an article of faith; We claim the privilege of worshipping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own concience, and allow all men the same, let them worship how, where, or what they may. I understand that people outside the LDS Church will see doctrinal conflicts between what the LDS teaches as biblical doctrine and what they believe the Bible says. That is to be expected, since that person is not part of the LDS Church. The point is that each of us, regardless of the specific area of Christianity to which we adhere, is operating solely on the universal principle of faith. Not one of us can prove beyond argument that our perspective is absolutely correct. Conflicts of belief will always exist so long as we are free to choose what to believe in our hearts and minds.

My mother was married less than a year after graduating high school. She never gained a degree in college, however I cannot imagine anyone else I know who is better at learning. My father was a private pilot for years. Mom decided to get her pilot's license just in case they were flying and she had to take the controls for some reason. She stopped short of taking her first solo flight, due to being pregnant with my older brother, but she learned what she needed to know. Later on, My dad's business was struggling, so Mom took a few college courses in business advertisement, then worked to keep the business going strong through a tough time. Then there's her scripture study. I recall her going through about two or three sets of scriptures simply due to the vast bookmarks, footnotes, highlighting, etc. that just wore them out, broke the spine, etc. As for us kids, she may not have taught us much in substance, but she did teach us how to learn, and how important it is to learn throughout your life. A college degree is certainly a mark of high intelligence, and good education. It is not, however, the only mark nor the only way to become an intelligent man or woman.