martybess

Abraham is a great example! (MY LIST) Obedience Faith Desire Study it out Steadiness Persistent (ADDING MORE AS I THINK OF THEM) -------------------------- Ever listening for Knowing when something is given. What are some ways? HG as feeling , HG as a thought that comes to your mind, others , scriptures, talks, dreams, voices, sounds, thunderous wave, lightning, spirits, beings, books etc. _

What was it that got Joseph Smith to the grove? One thing that comes to my mind is a great desire to know truth. Another would be he went the extra mile, like he had never prayed vocally before entering the grove. I think Wilcox will pin point some things the Joseph Smith did throughout his life. Obedience Faith Desire Study it out Steadiness Persistent _

One key I think is steadiness. We can not expect HF to help us, guide us if were all gung ho and doing everything possible for a week, of a month and so on and then back to listening to rap music, watching R rated movies and just going about the ways of the world. Then back to attending the temple everyday for two weeks and then back to really not even being worthy to go and so on. We must be steady, moving upward ever so slightly all the time. Yes will dip but still steadiness brings answers because when were up and down like a yo yo HF does not want to throw pearls out to one who in a week will be back to being a swine.

Yes this is where the examples of the prophets fit, expressly Joseph Smith processes to reach the level he did. But I guess it's the same for all. Would just help I think. Those who really want it attain it. If find it interesting the say that perhaps even more important than the revelations Joseph Smith received was his ability to revive answers. (This is key to us all)!!

Ok this is great as to ways HF communicates to his children. For me personally most of the time it's an impression that comes to my mind or it's answered through another person/persons and events leading up to the help and prayed for. Say for example I pray for help that a child to be touched and brought closer to HF or even brought back unto the fold after being lost and it's others in their lives and events that bring them back. Question, How does one live and prepare as to be able to receive answers? What does it take? Faith and action of course but is it that easy?

Tonight Wilcox is giving a lecture on receiving answers from God using the life of Joseph Smith. They state "This is the great theme of Joseph Smith's life and perhaps more important than any specific revelation he received." See link: Event Details I would of loved to attend this but how does one receive answers from HF? This would make a great priesthood lesson and it's my turn to teach the week after conference. _

Washington Temple. I traveled on a school bus at age 14 from Gatlinburg tennessee, it was awesome! Did baptisms and it was the most spiritual temple event in my life thus far. (Goes to show yes at age 14 one can truly receive). Second is SLC where I was sealed. Third is the Oquirrh mountain temple for it's endowment rooms. I love them! Ps. How do I get the pictures inside the message and not at a attachment????????????

This is a bit off the subject but not really. I was talking to a guy last night at a wedding and he brought the prodigal son up. He said it's the prodigal son who makes it. He is the one who actually finds the Father. Then he said something like (and I couldn't get into it to find out what he meant) but he said the older brother couldn't find Christ he didn't know him. He was kind of jumping around though and mentioned something about the 3 wise men too. Does anyone know what parable he was referring too? Was there a son in some parable that couldn't find the savior? He said few really understand the parable of the prodigal son and was talking about all the hypocrisy in the church and it's only those who get pasts this, past living the letter of the law, the law of mosses who truly find Christ. He kept talking about the hypocrisy in the church. He's in good standing as far as I know and is a lawyer for the church and works in the church office building so he has to have a recommend. So I'm thinking he's not what I call a left winger. One who on the edge of apostasy but he might be someone who has some insight.

PC, I think the difference or distinction of what is to come is LDS members believe all will have salvation accept the sons of perdition but God's greatest gift to us (other then agency) is the ability through Christ to become as he is. To reach Godhood in it's fullest. We would not give keys to a child with a suspended drivers license though we do not love them less then our other children. Those who earn it will receive those keys. This gift is offered to all God's children it is up to us to not get suspended. If one does not find the keys in this life by no fault of their own they will in the next.

3 NE 11: "3 And it came to pass that while they were thus conversing one with another, they heard a voice as if it came out of heaven; and they cast their eyes round about, for they understood not the voice which they heard; and it was not a harsh voice, neither was it a loud voice; nevertheless, and notwithstanding it being a small voice it did pierce them that did hear to the center, insomuch that there was no part of their frame that it did not cause to quake; yea, it did pierce them to the very soul, and did cause their hearts to burn. 4 And it came to pass that again they heard the voice, and they understood it not. 5 And again the third time they did hear the voice, and did open their ears to hear it; and their eyes were towards the sound thereof; and they did look steadfastly towards heaven, from whence the sound came." It will be like the above verse. Those who have lived true to hear and thus come to know God will have that given them. Our eyes, ears and understanding will be opened. Peace :)

Changed, I used this on quote on my facebook. Thanks You always have a ton of good quotes.

Tara, Look at this way. When parents have their first child they have all the best intentions of bringing the child up correctly. He will be the smartest child, the cleanest child, the fastest child and so on. By their sixth child all their absolutely correct principles are now much different. They don't always get up in the middle of the night at the first beep from the child, they don't want that child to necessarily but the smartest but the wisest and so on. They thought they knew all the right answers but life had a way of opening their eyes. The same is true just about anything in life including marriage. Put it aside for now come back to it in 45 years from now and take a look at it. Don't trouble your mind about it. Marty

So when your car keeps braking down on you and your dog dies and your best friend betrays you, you then get a serious illness and loose you eye sight is all because you have forgotten the Lord? Marty

He chewed his butt out! Pretty black and white on this one.

Do not worry about this principle as you grow in the gospel you will come to see it better, trust me. Right now it has NO bearing on you're progress. My wife worried about it too when she was in her twenties, thirty and some of her forties. But time has a way of healing tender feelings. Like someone who has hurt you and you are mad it them. But in time things smooth over and you eventually forget all about it. Satin is really working on you. He knows your troubled. Just let it go, it has not bearing on you right now, none. -Marty

I vote yes. But I'm 50 and life takes a different perspective for me and my wife. When I was young my vote was no and my wife really had a problem with this doctrine. Now however she votes yes as well. It's a weird thing what time and life does to one.

When my son was small and run into something that was hard for him to do did I always step in, no. Did I always fight his school mate battles for him, no. Did I keep an eye on him, yes. Though he may not of thought so. If he went to jail for something he did did I bail him out, yes on conditions. So it must be the same for HF. Though we didn't do anything to deserve the trail he lets us swim in the deep water so we become expert swimmers. "D&C 95:1 VERILY, thus saith the Lord unto you whom I love, and whom I love I also chasten that their sins may be forgiven, for with the chastisement I prepare a way for their deliverance in all things out of temptation, and I have loved you—" Interesting thing in this verse is he says he loves us three times. Like a father who spanks his child all the while saying "I love you, it's for your own good". And what is the child saying? "But dad, I didn't do anything wrong. Please don't". That's what I say.... HF what did I do, why me" while I should be saying "Thy will be done and submit to anything you put in my path". As did Abraham and Job. Marty

Yes that is my point too. Kind of a interesting process, a mix of things.

D&C 101 4 Therefore, they must needs be chastened and tried, even as Abraham, who was commanded to offer up his only son. 5 For all those who will not endure chastening, but deny me, cannot be sanctified. It looks to be part of our growth process but how HF accomplishes it is what's on my mind. How much does he play in our causing us pain. -Marty

D&C 95:1 VERILY, thus saith the Lord unto you whom I love, and whom I love I also chasten that their sins may be forgiven, for with the chastisement I prepare a way for their deliverance in all things out of temptation, and I have loved you— I find this interesting. Any ideas as to how he chastens his ppl? - Does he let down the hedge that protects them? - Is it their own doing because of wickedness and if so then really is it his chastisement or natural cause and effect? - Do we know were doing wicked so the light of Christ torments us? Kind of light what happened the the prophet when the plates were lost. Surely he was chastened. -Marty

I think he can hear our vocal prayers but I'm not sure about silent ones. Why were told to pray vocally where it can be heard (unless truly given in the spirit where then I dont think it's heard) tells me that it doesn't really matter if he hears it because he pretty much already knows whats going to be said in general. Power from the spoken word out weighs it being heard. It increases our faith to vocally pray. Were intentionally laying it all out in the open and in our minds we know who's listening in but it doesn't matter. I think this somehow gives us power. Like were saying I know your there but that doesn't matter to me. I'm praying to my G-d anyway and your not important to me. It's got to drive him totally insane to hear a heart felt prayer to HF. More of a punishment to him then a tool he uses against us. Maybe we should keep this in mind while praying. I once seen a show on tv where a guy through body language (eyes, eyelid blinks, head turning and so on) could tell who was not telling the truth pretty much every time. Now take those of his minions watching us 24/7 have they not perfected knowing body language and so forth. They are masters at this and all the things we do that tells them what's on our minds. Heart rate, breathing, gestures, habits and so forth. We've all watched little ones who want a cookie before dinner for example eying them over, walking by them time and time again. Their actions changes, they start talking to themselves differently and more frequently etc. And just when they reach out for it we say "you better not take that" or something like that. Satan's minion's are pros at this. -Marty

There's always a silver lining! Hang in there and vent all you want to. There was a point in my life where my peripheral neuropathy was so bad i was in a wheel chair. Life really sucks for me at times. HF has a way of putting things into perspective though. I would give anything to get my legs back!!! I'm in terrible pain most of the day. But it could be worse. My sister inlaw is peralized from the neck down after a mountain biking fall. Not to make what your going through nothing for truly life can be painful. Keep on trucking and keep your head up.

You don't know what he's done and he maybe just as terrified as you. Just because he blesses the sacrament doesn't make him perfect. If he's that good he will look past what you have done and see all the good that you are. You better go for it!!! You might regret it for a long time!!!

Guilt ans Shame are crippling! # Mosiah 2: 38 38 Therefore if that man repenteth not, and remaineth and dieth an enemy to God, the demands of divine justice do awaken his immortal soul to a lively sense of his own guilt, which doth cause him to shrink from the presence of the Lord, and doth fill his breast with guilt, and pain, and anguish, which is like an unquenchable fire, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever. Sometimes we feel just like Zeezrom..... no one wants us and our guilt is overwhelming. But just as in the case of Zeesrom we too can find forgivness and overcome! Alma 14:7 7 And it came to pass that he began to cry unto the people, saying: Behold, I am guilty, and these men are spotless before God. And he began to plead for them from that time forth; but they reviled him, saying: Art thou also possessed with the devil? And they spit upon him, and cast him out from among them, and also all those who believed in the words which had been spoken by Alma and Amulek; and they cast them out, and sent men to cast stones at them. Here's the key.... our heart given to the Lord and realizing we our not just a piece of junk. We are loved. HF loves us as does our Savior more then we know. Remember back when you felt the spirit, was it not an overwhelming feeling of love. D&C 64:22 22 And after that day, I, the Lord, will not hold any guilty that shall go with an open heart up to the land of Zion; for I, the Lord, require the hearts of the children of men. G~d Bless, Marty

Rameumptom awesome post!!!!!! Soooooo true for all of us, everyday of our lives!!! I wish we could of seen or could remember how the Savior acted and thought in everyday life. Everything in the scriptures is serious. (For a reason).... but still we could learn so much from the master! -Marty