mikbone

How is it a flaw in his choice of words? It would be perfectly rational for an agnostic physicist to make the statement that he did... I have no idea if Sagan has converted or not... Agnostics tend to be stubborn.

Like Carl Sagan I believe in Occam's razor. But I have a different intrepretation of it. It seems to me that belief in a Creator with design and intent to bing to pass the immortality of man, would require far fewer assumptions than that of evolution as currently taught by our department of education. If I were God which I am not. I would take a galaxy and populate multiple planets at the same time to test my spirit children with mortality concurrently. This would explain why Enoch and his city are currently ministering translated angels to different planets.

It is entirely possible that there are other mortal planets with humans within and outside of our galaxy. The vastness of space is incomprehensible. Our Milky-Way Galaxy is 100,000 or so light years in diameter. Our nearest neighbor star is Proxima Centari over 4 light years away. And our nearest neighbor galaxy Andromeda is 2.5 million light years away. Earthlings have only started sending radio waves into space within the last century. Thus, it will take our signals 100,000 years to cross through our spiral galaxy. (I hope the 2nd coming will have transpired before that time). It is entirely possible that God populated multiple solar systems equally scattered throuhout our galaxy at the same time. If He were to maintain the time between the discovery of radio transmission and the second coming within a 500 year time period, then He could easily have populated just over 30,000 Earths with no possibility of us ever receiving each others radio waves.

I was hoping you would comment on the original content of this thread. I didn't think you would have agreed with Lorenzo Snows couplet, but there you have it...

Carl Sagan considered himself an agnostic.

Congrats and welcome sister. 2 Nephi 2: 22-25 may be the scripture you are referring to.

From Carl Sagan's Contact Young Ellie: Dad, do you think there's people on other planets? Ted Arroway: I don't know, Sparks. But I guess I'd say if it is just us... seems like an awful waste of space.

D&C 130:22 The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man’s; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us.

Absolutely I personally related a story wherein during my surgical residency I spent anywhere from 110-125 hours a week at work. During these 5 years of residency, I can recall many times when I thought that I was being mistreated and overworked. I remember one day during my 3rd year when my 5 year old asked me if we could have a sleep over. When most kids ask about a sleep-over they want a friend to spend the night. My child just wanted me to be able spend the night at our home. Anyway, many times since in my personal practice, I have been in situations wherein my many hours of work paid off both for me and my patients. And there were even some difficult cases that made me wish that I had spent a few more hours at work... One of the Elders commented about how gold is mined and purified. Much ore has to be mined and then all the impurities have to be removed or burnt off. And interestingly, the closer that you get to a pure element, the harder it becomes to remove the slag or dross. He made the connection that our souls are much the same. Perfection is a heck of a goal but it is not an easy process. We of course discussed the events in Gethsemane and Golgotha, and connected Christ's suffering to his perfection as mentioned in Hebrews 2:10. We also commented on Joseph Smith''s trials and D&C 122. And Hebrews 12:6 I later discussed the lesson with my wife and realized that one of the reasons that she loves our children so much is because she was invested in their well being after having suffered throughout the pregnancy and labor process. I love our kids too but she had a deeper love for them immediately. Jesus Christ must love us dearly.

Yes

Do not tell him that you are attracted to him. Missonaries are young men that have dedicated this 2 years of their life to God. Missionaries are human and are tempted just like everyone else. If something romantic were to occur, it would disgrace the missionary and could lead to events that would cause him to be sent home early. This would have devestating effects, and follow him throughout the rest of his life. And if nothing were to happen after your declaration of physical attraction, it would still make your relationship very awkward. The missionaries are always sent out in pairs and are never to be out of each others sight. One reason for this rule is to prevent any romantic events. When missionaries teach the gospel to investigators ready to learn the gospel, sometimes the spirit can be felt very strongly. And sometimes the spirit can feel like love. One of God's greatest attributes is love. But this love is a brotherly love not a romantic love. It can be confusing. You will have to work out your relationship with your partner. One good option would be to discuss these issues with your Bishop. He can give you some good council and can much better understand your situation than a bunch of faceless people thousands of miles away on a keyboard.

Alma 32:21 And now as I said concerning faith—faith is not to have a perfect knowledge of things; therefore if ye have faith ye hope for things which are not seen, which are true

We were having fun during this thread discussing paradoxes and commenting on time-space issues. I doubt that we will be able to understand how God interacts with time until we enter the Celestial Kingdom and experience how He lives.

Dunno, I have done a few prolonged fasts though. Each time I did and the longer the fasts were, the easier it was to focus upon the spirit...

From today's priesthood lesson - Chapter 7: Faithfulness in Times of Trial: “From the Shadows into the Glorious Sunshine” Teachings of Presidents of the Church: Lorenzo Snow Some of our brethren have queried whether hereafter, they could feel themselves worthy of full fellowship with Prophets and Saints of old, who endured trials and persecutions; and with Saints … who suffered in Kirtland, in Missouri and Illinois. The brethren referred to have expressed regrets that they had not been associated in those scenes of suffering. If any of these are present, I will say, for the consolation of such, you have to wait but a short time and you will have similar opportunities, to your heart’s content. You and I cannot be made perfect except through suffering: Jesus could not [see Hebrews 2:10]. In His prayer and agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, He foreshadowed the purifying process necessary in the lives of those whose ambition prompts them to secure the glory of a celestial kingdom. None should try to escape by resorting to any compromising measures. (Deseret News: Semi-Weekly, Feb. 9, 1886, p.1) Take it individually or take it collectively, we have suffered and we shall have to suffer again, and why? Because the Lord requires it at our hands for our sanctification. (Deseret News, Oct. 28, 1857, p.270)

Dude I'm gonna cry. With all the hullabaloo in last conference of the women giving prayers, I pondered that it might be nice to have the wifes of the general authorities with them up on the stand. It would give the impression of equality in the church. Recognize the importance of spouses. And let the general authority couples enjoy each others company. Are there any rules that prevent spouses and children from accompanying Bishops on the stand. Wouldn't bother me a bit. I would actually prefer it.

Check out this guy. Recent event here in my home town. Made national news. Failed Burglary - YouTube

Many may have supposed that the doctrine of translation was a doctrine whereby men were taken immediately into the presence of God, and into an eternal fulness, but this is a mistaken idea. Their place of habitation is that of the terrestrial order, and a place prepared for such characters He held in reserve to be ministering angels unto many planets, and who as yet have not entered into so great a fulness as those who are resurrected from the dead. (Joseph Smith, Jr. "History of Joseph Smith," Deseret News, Vol. V, No. 11; quoted in John Taylor, Mediation and Atonement, p.72-75) Moses 1:35 But only an account of this earth, and the inhabitants thereof, give I unto you. For behold, there are many worlds that have passed away by the word of my power. And there are many that now stand, and innumerable are they unto man; but all things are numbered unto me, for they are mine and I know them. There are many more scriptures and quotes that are similar to the above. But these should suffice. And from a scientific standpoint Drake equation - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

D&c 93: 11-19

What does a man do?

I am unsure. Left and Right could mean so many things 1) Mark 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. It could mean that When Christ Reigns in heaven as the father that one of Zebedee's sons will serve in a position like the savior and the other as the Holy Ghost??? 2) Matthew 25:33, Sheep on the right and goats on the left. I don't think that this was what she was implying 3) More likely, She was looking at the Earthly leaders and hoping that Jesus would become the earthly King of the Jews and that her sons would become his 1st and 2nd councilors. I agree with you here. I think that Christ's atonement was on His mind during much of His ministry. And Christ asked James and John a question that He knew that they could not understand. It seems to me that Christ did this kind of thing often... I like your idea of the martyrdom of James and John I had not thought about that. Were the 12 apostles already baptized? Im not sure... Sounds like a hole in my knowledge base. (John 3:22-23)?? I'm not sure but I think that the drink and baptism that Christ is referring to is something that will take place after this mortal life. And that those 2 events are what may qualify men to sit at the Right hand of Christ. It is interesting that this position of honor can only be granted by Elohim...

Matthew 20 These verses make me wonder. Zebedee's wife (James and John's Mother) wants her boys to sit at Christ's right and left hand in his kingdom. 1) Does she realize what she is asking? 2) What does she want? What does she think is on the right and left hand of Christ? 3) What does Christ think she is asking for, right and left hand positions? 4) What is the drink that Christ refers to in verse 22? 5) What is the baptism that Christ refers to in verse 22? 6) Are James and John confused as well? Or do they understand the request? 7) What are the drink and baptism that Christ refers to in verse 23, are they the same drink and baptism that He refers to in verse 22?

I would highly recommend that you read or watch Jeffery R. Holland's recent conference talk. Lord, I Believe - general-conference

If you haven't already, Go get The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. Best Fantasy book I've ever read. The kindle version is on sale now for $2.99 Way better than the Game of Thrones and it was written by a Mormon, Brandon Sanderson.

Thats hilarious. National news... I wanna party with you man.