mikbone

Yeah, I need better words. Top left should be, Prosperity? Top right should be a work that means - poor due to trials of faith while following the gospel. Long-suffering? Bottom left should be Abundance of ill gotten lucure - Decadence? Bottom right should be spiritual and financially destitute - Wretchedness? Suggestions?

I hate the concept of a prosperity theology From Wikipedia - Prosperity theology (sometimes referred to as the prosperity gospel, the health and wealth gospel, the gospel of success, seed-faith gospel, Faith movement, or Word-Faith movement) is a religious belief among some Charismatic Christians that financial blessing and physical well-being are always the will of God for them, and that faith, positive scriptural confession, and giving to charitable and religious causes will increase one's material wealth. Material and especially financial success is seen as a sign of divine grace or favor. The Pride matrix is a better way of visualizing reality. Yes Righteousness does tend to make people industrious and blessed, and usually people will improve their situation and become better off spiritually and temporally. But not necessarily. Good people get trials like cancer and financial compromise. Bad people can also become very rich and appear spiritually and temporally blessed. Be careful sitting in judgment.

Well the pride cycle is not based in scripture. It's a construct that someone made up to help them to explain what they saw in the scriptures. Unfortunately, it has been reprinted and taught so many times in lesson manuals that many now think that it is doctrine. For example, in my stake there was a very rich member that was well respected and a local philanthropist with his name on many civic projects. Until it came out that his $ came from a very successful Ponzi scheme. He was sentenced to 42 years and 8 months on 35 felony counts. I also had a LDS friend that was an amazing athlete. He developed a primary bone cancer and underwent chemotherapy and 20+ surgeries including a hip disarticulation in attempt to control the cancer. He died at the age of 37 in 2003. He was inspiring in so many ways. I don't believe that he was cursed. His trial was difficult, one that he overcame with honor and distinction.

I think you are suggesting a 3D x, y, z axis... That's an array, not a matrix. And overly complicated. I'm trying to make something less complicated and more realistic. I actually don't want to replace the pride cycle. I want the concept of the pride cycle to disappear.

I have never liked the above symbolic representation of the Book of Mormon. It's too simplistic, it suggests that if you are prosperous that you are righteous. That if you are rich you are Godly. And if you are poor that you deserve it from your own pride and wickedness. You can find yourself anywhere on the matrix depending on your current lifestyle. You might be wealthy because you are following God and are industrious. You can also be under a current trial and be poor but also following Jesus. The Pride matrix might help us to be less judgy and more introspective. Just because someone is rich don’t assume they are good. The Pride Cycle is not in the Book of Mormon. I have associated it as so due to the many lessons that I have had in the past. You have probably done the same. The Pride Matrix is just something I threw together today. If you have suggestions or hate mail please share. Y axis describes where you are - Christ-like moves you up in the verticle range, Satanic moves you down. X axis is a representation of perceived wealth. Money does not have anything to do with displaying righteousness. Who was more righteous King Herod or Jesus Christ? We know pretty well if we are industrious or slothful. Also pretty easy to know if we are prideful or humble. Think about where Job and King David were during their lives, they moved around the matrix quite a bit and in different directions. Neither one of them really followed the pride cycle.

Joseph and Oliver received the Aaronic Priesthood prior to baptism.

Sometimes it’s good to be able to know what God is going through. How many times does He feel this way. Does it give you relief to know that His effort in you has been appreciated? Imagine performing the atonement and then having the souls that you sacrificed for spit on and crucify you with glee. It’s hard. Most of our efforts will be taken for granted or even worse. But every once in a while we can make a difference. Those moments are precious. And practice with the masses probably helps us to be more successful with those under our own roof. With God’s grace.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333033680_The_re-emergence_of_Hebrew_as_a_national_language There are plenty of journal articles as well. I have been watching i24 news recently to get the Israel version of the Gaza war news. Al Jazeera seems pretty biased. I was intrigued to hear how harsh the Hebrew language can sound especially during a disagreement. I became curious and went down a rabbit hole. Pretty interesting. My father relates that his father and uncles used to speak bohemian but his mother asked that he not teach it to the children because she considered it as a low brow working class language and wanted better for her children. Dumb. I wish I knew Czech.

Learn something new everyday. ChatGPT response: The revival of Hebrew as a spoken language is one of the most remarkable linguistic phenomena of modern times. Hebrew, which had been a liturgical and scholarly language for over a millennium, was brought back to daily use through a deliberate and concerted effort in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. ### Historical Context: Hebrew had ceased to be a spoken language around the 3rd or 4th century CE, surviving primarily as a liturgical language for Jewish religious practices and scholarly writings. For everyday life, Jews across the diaspora adopted the languages of their surrounding cultures (such as Yiddish, Ladino, or Arabic). ### The Key Figures: The revival of spoken Hebrew is largely attributed to **Eliezer Ben-Yehuda**, a linguist and Zionist pioneer, who is often called the "father of modern Hebrew." Ben-Yehuda believed that the revival of Hebrew as a spoken language was essential for the cultural and national rejuvenation of the Jewish people, especially in the context of the emerging Zionist movement, which sought to establish a Jewish homeland in Palestine. ### Key Developments in the Revival: 1. **Ben-Yehuda’s Personal Efforts**: Ben-Yehuda was determined to speak only Hebrew in his home, beginning with his family. His son, Itamar Ben-Avi, became the first native speaker of modern Hebrew. Ben-Yehuda also compiled a comprehensive Hebrew dictionary, adding modern terms for new technologies and concepts. 2. **The Hebrew Language Committee**: In 1890, Ben-Yehuda established the *Va'ad HaLashon* (later the Hebrew Language Academy), which played a central role in standardizing Hebrew vocabulary, grammar, and orthography, helping to ensure the language could serve as a medium for modern communication. 3. **Education System**: A significant factor in the spread of spoken Hebrew was the establishment of Hebrew-language schools in Palestine. Hebrew was adopted as the medium of instruction, first in kindergartens and eventually throughout the education system. The commitment to teaching Hebrew in schools created a new generation of native Hebrew speakers. 4. **Zionist Movement**: The rise of Zionism and waves of Jewish immigration to Palestine (particularly from the 1880s onward) provided a fertile environment for the revival of Hebrew. Immigrants from diverse linguistic backgrounds needed a common language, and Hebrew served as both a practical and symbolic choice. 5. **Official Language**: Under the British Mandate of Palestine, Hebrew was recognized as one of the official languages (alongside Arabic and English) in 1922. This gave further legitimacy to Hebrew as a national language and accelerated its adoption. 6. **Establishment of Israel**: With the creation of the State of Israel in 1948, Hebrew was declared the official language. It became the language of government, the military, the media, and daily life, cementing its role in the modern Jewish state. ### Challenges and Successes: The revival of Hebrew faced significant challenges. It had to be modernized to accommodate new technologies, social changes, and ideas that had no equivalent in ancient Hebrew. Additionally, Jews from various countries had to learn Hebrew and abandon the languages they had been speaking for generations. Despite these difficulties, the revival of Hebrew is considered a success. Today, it is the native language of millions of people in Israel, used in every facet of life, from science and business to the arts and casual conversation.

I wonder if some of the Trump trucks and bumper sticker cars are gonna tone it down. Kinda like a bad tattoo.

Pretty sure he is not asking for help. More of just sharing his newfound realization. I’m still curious and waiting on the spiritual awakening insight.

Is that why Im seeing alot of social media pictures with single young women holding cats? Looks like Trump has dug himself quite a hole.

Yup. It’s difficult to know how our blessings and prayers are received. And its not our job to predict the will of God. But we should recognize when we are making a situation worse with our good will. And Satan loves to manipulate situations so that we are causing more problems when we think we are helping. He likes to use people as tools. I’ve been burned before. Look how physicians over the past 2 decades caused our current narcotic nightmare by believing a lie that no one should experience pain. Sometimes pain is a good thing. It reminds us that we should stop doing some activities. “If you wish to go where God is, you must be like God, or possess the principles which God possesses. For if we are not drawing towards God in principle, we are going from him and drawing towards the Devil. . . . Search your hearts and see if you are like God.” - Joseph Smith, Jr

That point of view seems naive to me. I might be mis-understanding you, but without self-assessment how can we know where we are going? As a physician and scientist I am constantly making observations and adjustments. Taking a set of rules and following them without constant evaluation is a sure fire plan for failure. In Alma 32 we learn that when you plant a seed you can only know that it is good if it bears good fruit. I don’t think one has to wait till the day of judgement to evaluate what path they are on.

Another thought. Based off the parable of the talents when we give charity we should get a good return. Be it physical or spiritual blessings / joy for the giver and the recipient. Giving without accountability is being an unwise servant

With 11 children and my current occupation, my hands are full. I Still manage to have a calling, although I let the bishop know that I may be called away without notice. Because of my job I may not be as dependable as you would like… My wife is pretty good at volunteering her time and our money though. It will be interesting to see what happens after retirement and when the children are out of the house. I bet we will have lots of Grandchildren passing through though.

Amen brother. First yourself Then your family Then everyone else - including the church. The law of consecration does not trump your personal responsibility or duty as patriarch. Just imagine what a lovely world we would live in if everyone took care of their own personal stuff.

We don’t excommunicate anymore. Policy has changed. See chapter 32 of the handbook. Instead of being "disfellowshipped," members are given "formal membership restrictions." Excommunication, or being removed from the organization, is labeled a "withdrawal of membership." We perform ordinances for the dead without verifying if the dead are worthy, or even if they want the blessings. Eventually every knee will bow and every tongue confess. Is kinda hard to listen to them bad mouth the church while dancing half nakid drinking booze and labeling themselves as Mormon’s. But then again look at Alma the Younger. As the Church continues to grow this will become more and more of an issue. Buckle up.

October 9, 1844 Conference voted that Elder Sidney Rigdon be permitted to retain his station as Counsellor to the First President. President Joseph Smith arose and said ‘I have thrown him off my shoulders and you have again put him on me, you may carry him, but I will not.’ I once worked with one of Sidney Rigdon’s descendants who was a RN in an orthopedic clinic. I had a very similar experience… Not impressed.

Yup, all Job’s friends and associates had rebuked him. Joseph still had true friends that ferociously defended him. 1837 was a rough year for Joseph. “On a certain occasion several of the Twelve, the witnesses to the Book of Mormon, and others of the Authorities of the Church, held a council in the upper room of the Temple. The question before them was to ascertain how the Prophet Joseph could be deposed, and David Whitmer appointed President of the Church. Father John Smith, brother Heber C. Kimball and others were present, who were opposed to such measures. I rose up, and in a plain and forcible manner told them that Joseph was a Prophet, and I knew it, and that they might rail and slander him as much as they pleased, [but] they could not destroy the appointment of the Prophet of God; they could only destroy their own authority, cut the thread that bound them to the Prophet and to God, and sink themselves to hell” (Brigham Young, in “History of the Church,” Juvenile Instructor, Mar. 1871, 37; punctuation standardized).

Nope, not a problem in Northern CA. Where do you live?

I learned that Moroni visited Joseph Smith Sept 21-22 of 1823, which coincidentally is the exact day for the Jewish Holiday Rash Hashanah (Jewish new year). Because the Hebrew calendar is lunisolar, the date of Rosh Hashanah on the Gregorian calendar shifts each year but usually falls between September 5 and October 5. In essence, the date of Rosh Hashanah is determined by the new moon of the Hebrew month of Tishrei, with adjustments made periodically to keep it aligned with the solar seasons. We have celebrated Passover for the past 4 years. But looks like we will celebrate Rash Hashanah this year as well. October 2-3, right before General Conference… Sound the Shofar (Moroni’s Trumpet). Eat lots of good food. Round Challah, sweet fruits (apples, pomegranate, dates) with honey, Pumpkin, carrots, brisket, etc.

Watched part of the first episode yesterday. meh. Its a tell all, not a reality show. I prefer to watch the train wreck in real time. The plastic surgery is out of control. I can’t imagine that men like this look. They must be doing the botox, lifts, and lips fillers because the group is encouraging them to do so, feelings of inadequacy, or pervasive disturbance of body image. I totally support free will. Do your thing girl. But when you start encouraging others to break their covenants, that’s apostasy. Which I find abhorrent.

My patients always ask me when they can start driving again. I always give the same schpiel. 1) This is a legal question not a medical question. 2) We know from studies that with significant extremity injuries, reaction time is doubled to tripled. 3) If you get into an accident and the opposing attorney is any good, you will be hosed. 4) My wife and children live in the community and I love them. 5) I know what I would be doing if I was in your situation, and I won’t tell you.