martybess

That's a great analogy!

I would say under the covenants made in the temple.

There is nothing wrong with this. If you live in other parts of the world it's common. I have taken many, many sauna with my father in-law who is a full blooded Finn. I don't feel funny at all though I did 30 years ago. You sit and talk and it's a bonding time. Nothing immoral about it. I have even gone with him while in Finland to public ones. (New years day everyone goes). Last time I was in Finland and was staying at a hotel and I saw to gentlemen outside the hotel who had just came out from the sauna who had nothing on but a loose robe. (Standing outside the hotel!) I looked at my wife rolled my eyes and said you Finns, see said get over it. It was a busy street and now one even blinked an eye.

"Exalted Saints are compared to the pillars of a temple, which are stable, strong, and permanent fixtures of the temple precinct. In a similar manner the Saints will stand forever in the heavenly temple, never to be removed by evil forces. John explains that such individuals will "go no more out" of the temple. Compare Gal. 2:9, in which Peter, James, and John were "pillars" in the church." - Understanding the Book of Revelation by Jay A. Parry, Donald W. Parry "Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God" (Rev. 3:12). "That is, he shall have exaltation and godhood. As Deity now is, he shall become. He shall have eternal life." - Sermons and Writings of Bruce R. McConkie by Bruce R. McConkie "Paul referred to Peter, James, and John as "pillars" of the Church. (See Galatians 2:9.) A pillar holds the weight of the building. If we keep in mind the beauty of Greek and Roman edifices, the image becomes more striking. The word suggests responsibility, leadership, and weight in Christ's dominion. It also suggests permanency, especially when coupled with the phrase "he shall go no more out." This is the last testing period. As Paul said of his own life, the battle is almost won; the race nears its end, the open door issues an inviting welcome, the celestial radiance already warms the face. Once admitted back into the temple of our Father, we will never leave again. There will assuredly be much to learn, but the outcome in our own minds will never again be in doubt. " - Who Shall Be Able to Stand? by S. Michael Wilcox

Thanks Justice I think that is what I'm going to study. Creation/Fall/Atonement/Christ. I'm only using scripture. Color coded, tagged with notes in a new set. I'm going to gear them towards a missionary type set with just those subjects to start out with and go from there. It's going to be a fun winter project!!!

Others might include: Gratitude Humility Grace Justice Revelation/Inspiration Judging Forgiveness Repentance Miracles Prayer Salvation Testimony Unity/Sustaining The Fall

I'm going to create a list of 10 subjects I should understand in depth and have a strong testimony of in order of importance. What would be your number one subject? What would be your top 10? Example: 1. Jesus Christ 2. Atonement 3. The plan of salvation 4. Faith and works 5. Love and Charity 6. Priesthood Power 7. Obedience 8. Covenants: Baptism, New and everlasting covenant, Abrahamic covenant, etc. 9. Nature of God 10. Repentance Marty

Vanhin, You will love it! My wife got to go to the dedication. BTW I don't know if you have seen this: Best Countries in the World - Newsweek What are we doing in the US? Ok I know that question is problematic. How long have you been a member? We might know some ppl in common.

I know this off subject, sorry...... Maya I was at the Finnish temple last week!!! It was so wonderful to be with the saints there. Many Finns don't really like the Russian's, Estonian's etc. because of the suffering at their hands but I love them dearly!! They too have suffered much and they are so humble. Many countries go to the Finnish temple right now and it was the Estonians day the day I was there and I shed tears that day when a brother who had traveled from Estonia asked me in broken english where I lived and I said SLC he jumped out at me and gave me a huge hug and started crying saying I love you brother, I love you brother. Wow I take so much for granted living where I do while it's only a dream for these extremely poor folks to walk the halls where every prophet has walked since Bringham in the SLC temple etc. It was as if I was best friends with the prophet to him. We shed some tears all along I kept telling him I'm just a brother in the priesthood like him, no different other then our locations. His spirit was overwhelming. Sorry just had to share.

I think there's to takes on the lessons, doctrine and stories. Come to know them both, come to know your students well and live so the spirit can direct you. Talk to their parents to find out the ones with struggles. Remember these are the warriors of the last days. H.F. knows them well and he will bless you, he has allot riding on them. He knows it's your job to train his warriors and he will bless you as you live for it and they will look to you as you do this. Get up every morning and ask H.F. what He would you do that day in class? I would be so excited to have this calling!!!! I love them!!!! So much strength and power, wow.

I think to answer your above question.... salvation is maybe not the right word here. Yes all are saved (resurrected) but the correct word might be exaltation. We believe there are difference "degrees of glory" where ultimately we will end up depending upon our works during life. It would not really be fair for us to all end up in the same place. If you were doing all within your power to keep your covenants and the commandments and I was a thief, lier, whoremonger, hypocrite etc. we will not end up in the same degree of glory. You would end up living with God our father where as I would end up in a lower degree. There are scriptures that talk about this in depth but I will just use one from the bible. 1Cr 15:41 KJV - [There is] one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for [one] star differeth from [another] star in glory.

That is true and I haven't seen members abusing the privilege of reading the scriptures in the celestial room. But surely it is a house of learning and everything were taught there can be found in the scriptures. It is the only place that the powers of godliness are administered and taught. Or in other words we come to know God not as the world knows God. But as Hemi has stated I do agree it is in and through the priesthood keys and ordinances one comes to know the powers of godliness.

Yes I would like to know the reasoning behind this as well. D&C 109 states they are a house used for many things, not just ordinances. 13And that all people who shall enter upon the threshold of the Lord’s house may feel thy power, and feel constrained to acknowledge that thou hast sanctified it, and that it is thy house, a place of thy holiness. 14And do thou grant, Holy Father, that all those who shall worship in this house may be taught words of wisdom out of the best books, and that they may seek learning even by study, and also by faith, as thou hast said; What are the best books? I'm not sure but the temples I've been too (will be in the Helsinki Finland Temple next week) all have the scriptures lying around to read at your pleasure, to study over and pray about that one might receive further light and knowledge and to "feel constrained to acknowledge that" the temples are sanctified and give great comfort and strength in these troubled times.

I think all the temples other then the Kirtland are functioning since the church I guess you could say rebuilt the Nauvoo. We haven't changed to the ones we have today, all temples are functioning temples.

Oh they are most definitely a place of refuse! When I was under an extreme trial I found great peace and strength and went even more the once a week. Also I come to learn it takes a while (over a year for me) of going there on a persistent basis before one comes to tap into a strength and power that comes from the temple. It took me much effort but now sometimes just thinking about the temple brings that peace and strength. Much more there than just going "through" the temple, it has to go "through" us.

I go weekly, every Wednesday. It's easy for me, I walk just a few blocks. I always wanted to live next to the temple and the Oquirrh Temple was built right down the street from me last year. I love it.

What was from the beginning? Are you talking about light and intelligence?

Yes he did have a problem speaking and that was probably for a reason I don't know??? But what was it about him that drove from Egypt, was it something that came with him that one could detect in his traits? That's the question? I know we've changed due to our surrounds and mortality itself but our traits, who we really are under the layer of life's scars and joys that is who we really are, that's the talents we worked to gain before mortality and carry with us that I'm talking about. Change we do but I don't know I'm trying to get a grasp on the whole matter. Why come to earth, what are we to gain from it? More traits or talents? To define in greater depth who we are? To lift us do godhood or lesser? It's defining us day be day and we will carry that with us just as what we gained before life is with us now. We just need to tap into it. Be aware of it, think about it, have faith when we are inclined to do something we believe is who we are as did Moses, as did all the greats. Are we a great? Were we all equal, no. Why?, we define us, we gain traits, we loose traits otherwise we would all be clones. Elder McConkie, Environment - "When the spirit offspring of God pass from pre-existence to mortality, they bring with them the talents, capacities, and abilities acquired during a long existence and experience in their first estate. At the time of mortal birth all children are innocent and pure. Then as they begin to become accountable, they are swayed by "the tradition of their fathers." (D. & C. 93:38-39.) Heredity - In his eternal providences and omniscient wisdom, an Almighty Deity has ordained laws whereby the characteristics and qualities of parents are transmitted to their descendants. From a mortal viewpoint this is called heredity. From an eternal perspective it is the Lord's way of sending through particular lineages the very spirits who have developed the mental, spiritual, and other qualifications entitling them so to be born. The complexities and intricacies of the laws prevailing in this field are beyond finite capacity to comprehend.

Ok what about the mighty and great spirits as it says in the scriptures? Moses was one for example and he was a great prophet on earth too. (Mighty there and here). Why? Did he know he was a prophet when he left all that was his in Egypt to become a sheep herder? What drove him to greatness? His spirit was great, it came with him along with those traits. What traits came with him? I wonder if there wasn't boldness, kindness, understanding, compassion, a positive outlook or what ever??? If we were valiant and mighty and all some of that had to come with us otherwise I just cant see the point of trying to better ourselves in pre-earth life.

Are thinking one comes into life stubborn just because of their body? The moment I looked into my second son eyes 27 years ago I said to myself "were going to have troubles with this one" lol. Kind of scary. It was obvious in his demeanor. The strong and bold came with his body only?

I haven't spent that much time reflecting on this subject but I can tell you folks have. Wow, great stuff!

It sounds as if you know what you want you just need the faith to do it. It also sounds like you know about the gospel, the plan and believe it. This has got to be hard for you, it's hard kicking against the pricks. I like your plan, you need to get your boyfriend exposed to the gospel. Start going to church, read the scripture daily and pray daily. Other than what the Lord can do to help you through the atonement (and that's allot!) you must get the support from others! Start going, take your boyfriend and find out if he's wanting to be with you for eternity! Your on the right track by asking for advice here, there always has to be a start!

Go to church and tell the bishop your not worthy right now to take the sacrament and not ready to talk about it but you wont to come to church to get back into the swing of things because you have been less active for a while. There are many reasons why one can't take the sacrament and he will understand completely.

Have we really changed that much from our premortal state? Was I a loner in the premortal life, not really one who likes doing things with a group of ppl? Did I need down time after spending the day with others to regroup and unwind? Or are these just mortal tendencies? Any thoughts? This article adds insight to why we think as we do. The Great Adventure — Worth the Risks By Gary C. Lawrence A few months before the death of my friend Terry Jeffers of San Antonio, Texas, I asked this valiant member of the Church how he was handling what he knew, courtesy of cancer, to be his shrinking number of days in mortality. His calm answer spoke volumes, “It’s all part of the Great Adventure.” I capitalize those two words because that’s how he spoke them — with a reassurance of the reality of the hereafter that even bordered on anticipation, adventure being a word that swirled around this gifted spirit since I first met him during our BYU days. This conversation came to mind again as I read about Laurence and Marianne Sunderland of Marina del Rey, California, who allowed their 16-year-old daughter Abby to attempt a solo circumnavigation of the globe, and the howl from critics when a rogue wave broke the mast of Abby’s 40-foot sailboat and left her adrift in the southern Indian Ocean a few days ago. “What is wrong with these parents? She is 16, a child,” was a typical comment quoted in the L.A. Times.1 And some of the “legions” of incensed parents even accused the Sunderlands of child endangerment. Laurence Sunderland defended his family’s actions: “I’ve never advocated this for 16-year-olds. I’ve advocated this for experienced sailors, [and] Abby is a fine sailor.”2 To those who don’t bother to learn of Abby’s training, her parents’ decision to let her try the adventure might look unwise. After all, what kind of parents would send out a child to sail storm-churned oceans alone? I submit that their decision differs only in scope from what our Heavenly Parents did. We are told that when Heavenly Father announced His plan for our progress by giving us the experience of a mortal existence, “…the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.”3 While many cheered, did the plan have its critics? Only a third of the hosts of heaven’s worth. I can imagine their whiny arguments, more than one in parallel to the arguments the Sunderlands are hearing: * How can you send your children on a journey from which they may not return? It’s unfair. * How can you be so heartless to cut off your children from the only world they’ve ever known, and extinguish their memory of it as well? * Why take the risk? It’s not worth it. You should guarantee a satisfactory outcome. Sound familiar? That’s because the two schools of thought in our pre-mortal existence are still with us. On the one hand are those who want a cocoon society where everyone is entitled to the security of food, housing and medical care — even if paid with the sweat of other people’s brows. These are the wimpy souls who want rewards without effort, success without risk, and accolades conferred by fiat instead of deeds. And who criticize those who encourage their children to dream and to dare and to do. These timid cowards rarely risk deeds that lead to greatness, but are only too happy to control the lives of others in worship of equality of outcomes — the great levelers who make sure no one fails. And if that means commensurately that no one excels, so be it. If this had been God’s intent, there was an offer on the table He could have accepted. Then there are those who work with life’s risks instead of against them. These are they: * who willingly, even excitedly (they shouted for joy), accept risks; * who measure the odds and then leave hearth and home to create, compete, and conquer; * who with their deeds strengthen personal character and advance society; * who are confident in the skill sets they learned from their Parents or parents; * who venture onto life’s oceans with only prayer, or a satellite phone, to keep the connection. These are they who, directly or intuitively, know that our Heavenly Father sent us to fulfill specific missions and to gather experiences that would stand us in good stead throughout eternity — real-life knowledge that can only be achieved by exercising agency with its attendant risks, not surrendering it to the siren-song statists who would destroy it. Congratulations to you, Mr. and Mrs. Sunderland, and special kudos to your daughter Abby. You and others like you are the reasons civilization progresses, even though many of your critics fancy themselves the adjective-turned-noun form of that verb. And a tip of the hat in memory of Terry Jeffers who lived and loved the Great Adventure on the oceans of life, risky as it is.

I read that article about a month ago and got me thinking. I put so much of that crap in my body. Pretty much everything we eat is processed and designed to induce cravings.