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Hmmm, yet another instance that sort of proves that as wonderful scripture as the Bible is, there is discrepancy and we do need more sources of scripture (aka: Book of Mormon, living prophet, etc.).

I tried to sub out soda in order to lose weight once. I have concluded that subbing it with chocolate is a bad idea.

Can you send followup cookies with it? Sorry, couldn't resist.

Hmmm okay, thanks. I think I understand.

Thanks Omaha. I will have to look for it some time. Sadly that will have to wait as school starts again on Tuesday and my time will be short. Currently I know nothing whatsoever about hezbollah. I did look at the sources provided earlier, but I regret to say that I didn't find them to be very credible (no offense Islander :)).

I think we did. Otherwise we couldn't have appreciated the need for agency.

Guess he got bored.

I found a few points in a few posts here to be kind of interesting so I thought I would add my 2 cents. One point I found was towards the beginning and was a constant reference to rebels being cast into hell. While I don't believe this principle, I would like to say that it doesn't really negate Gods love. You can't rebel against what you don't know. So on this point, I don't think that born again christians are teaching a lack of love, I think they are being misunderstood. However if I am wrong, I invite any of them to correct me. I admit I didn't read the whole thread, but another post I found interesting involved a reference to Joseph Smith not being the original author of the degrees of glory, and these having been discussed in the 1700's. While I understand that this individual is no longer with us, I would like to make a point should the subject come up again later. Whoever said it in the 1700's didn't originate it either. To my knowledge, the most original writings we have that discuss the degrees of glory are by Paul in the New Testament. So really, the only kingdom discussed that is never mentioned by name in the scriptures is the telestial. So this shouldn't really be a faith shattering principle. Just my thoughts and I have no idea if anyone will actually read this since it is so late in the game.

I like Travelers answer to the OP. In response to the comments on Paul, we must remember that the Bible in and of itself is not as whole or perfect as it once was, as it has been translated, interpreted, and sifted through the hands of conspiring men over time. For all we know Paul never actually said anything about women speaking in church. That said, Joseph Smith clarified the meaning of that verse to be that women shouldn't lead in church. This is a practice of the church today as far as priesthood leadership goes.

Oh we all know he looked into that one too, but he can't say anything about that.

I have done sessions in: Preston England Oklahoma City Oklahoma (has no one else ever been to this one? ) Rexburg Idaho Salt Lake City Utah I did baps in Dallas as well.

Well I was exactly 22 and a half on the 30th of December. This day is marked as a special day for me because it is the day that actually makes me feel old. Reason being because now the RSM's can come home and be younger than me still.

I wish I had those. :D:D:D:D

Okay, yeah I think I can see that. I suppose the only thing I could then point out is that any such experience on Josephs part would be considered sacred even as many spiritual experiences and the temple are considered sacred. So of course he wouldn't make a point of making it known. Sadly though I doubt most of Christianity would go for that one. Like you said, our culture prevents it.

I'd take it literally myself. God took up the city of Enoch. Literally. That said I tend to do the same with the flood story, though I know of many who feel otherwise.

I leave my goals relatively generic. It makes them easier to accomplish. I am considering making opposite goals to accompany my goals so that I actually reach half of them too. :) Lose weight Exercise more Eat less

I just wanna throw this out there. I find it interesting that polygamy is such a huge deal. It especially surprises me that it is such a big thing in all of christianity. I'm not saying I am for it, cause I am not. God has made it clear that it is not to be practiced today, and I have a hard enough time finding the first one so I don't even think about what I would have to do to find the others. Anyway, the reason I find it so interesting is because the 12 tribes of Israel are such a huge deal and they were conceived under righteous polygamy. So I ask, so what if Joseph or Brigham practiced? At the time it was required by God for whatever reason, and now its banned. We've seen the pattern before, so why is it such a problem to see it again?

I think my goal is more to eat less chocolate this year than last year. :)

I don't want to stir the pot or offend or anything like that. I did look at the sources provided by Islander on page one of this thread. Thanks again for supplying them. I just want to say that you should be very careful believing them. They are not very credible and are highly biased. These by themselves express the high possibility that they aren't true. This doesn't change my stance that we still live in a very dangerous world and that terrorism certainly aggravates that status.

In response to the first main concern, I think we should define agency. Agency isn't the ability to act without anyone knowing what we are going to do. It is the ability to act without being forced to do something. I think we can all agree that even if God does know everything we are all going to do, he does not force us to do anything. This is proven by the number of us who do things we shouldn't. In response to the second main concern, I can only think of three reasons you may feel that you aren't receiving an answer. 1. You are receiving it, you just don't recognize it. 2. You don't want the answer that would be given. 3. God is testing your patience. Now to explain. 1. I know that in D&C it talks about Oliver Cowdery's experience with the translation and it covers confusion vs. increased understanding. Fact is, there are so many ways the spirit can answer prayers that we can't rely only on this or on angelic visitations as options. I will list a few, more can be found on pgs. 96 and 97 of Preach my Gospel. The spirit can: Give increased love, joy, peace, etc. It can give ideas to our minds. It can enlighten our minds. It glorifies God. It can guide what we pray for. I would encourage you to look at more examples in the given reference. 2. Often many of us find ourselves in a position where we want an answer to a prayer but one of 2 things is present in our attitude. First is a passing interest that doesn't include a desire to act on the answer. Second is a full interest but we have already decided on what answer we want (even if we know that we wouldn't get it) and refuse to accept another answer. Either of these attitudes would serve to block our reception of answers even if God were inclined to answer. Lets say your son (hypothetical situation) asks you if you want him to answer the dishwasher. Of course you do. Unless the dishes are dirty of course. However lets say he was just asking for the sake of asking and wasn't actually intending on doing it. Why would you answer him if you knew this was the case? (You don't but in a prayer setting God would) In the other situation, lets suppose he wanted ice cream. He has already decided what answer he wants. Even if he wont get it. I have prayed on a number of things and have been guilty of one of these situations. I can tell you that I received no answer then and only received it when I opened myself to Gods will. 3. This option is that God may be testing your patience. I can't really say much about that except to be patient. Something we have to remember about prayer is that it is not simply communication with God. It is the process of aligning our will with his via our agency. In closing I can only advise that you study (not read) your scriptures every day. Pray night and day. Attend church meetings. Avoid any activity that would dull the spirit (antimormon lit., any negative media, and yes, coffee). If you truly want to believe, then do these and consider the improvement in your life as a possible answer to your prayer. Don't live the gospel for show. Live the gospel cause thats what is in your heart.

To Gaysaint: I haven't heard that before to be honest. While it does place it on par with the scriptures condemning those who forbid meats, I would still be very careful determining what is and is not supposed to be in modern scripture. The prophet alone has that right and power even when the matter is as simple as punctuation. My view on the whole meat thing is this. When the WoW was first given, it was not a commandment, it was advice. Sometime since, it became a commandment. Personally I do not think that the whole thing became a commandment and this is why. First, you are not kept out of the temple for the dietary parts of it, only for taking in the forbidden. Second, I looked in Preach My Gospel, and the missionaries do not cover the diet part in detail. The best reference they are supposed to make is that we must eat healthily. Meat is healthy when eaten correctly as it does contain various essentials. So my thoughts are that the 'eat meat sparingly' part is more advice than a commandment. Personally I do know that if I eat too much in one go I get sick, but thats true of any food other than vegetables for me.

I'm glad its back. I have been curled up in my little corner of Idaho sobbing.

Well, I think that we can all agree that regardless of fault (and as amusing as it is, I think it is pointless to assign blame at this point), the world will just get worse before it gets better. And on a wide scale it is only likely to get better in the second coming. Personally I think this would happen even without terrorism. It will happen as a result of generally degrading morals. My sourceless opinion

Sweet, thanks

While all of the gifts of the spirit are wonderful, I think that many of the examples given differ somewhat from what tiancum is talking about. At least, what I understand he is talking about. It is true that spirits are around us. I believe it was Brigham Young that said the Spirit World is right here with us, though I can't give a specific reference. My understanding is that the instance is rare that such spirits appear to us living souls. In fact, it is my understanding that it is even more rare for these souls who have passed on to appear than it is for those souls which never have had, and never will get a body to appear. I will not cast down this sisters claim, however it is a very serious subject that would definitely require much prayer. If it is real and of God (and I won't lie, I doubt it is), then it is a truly wonderful thing. I am more inclined to believe that it is probably not right and of God. However I personally am not in a position to judge in absolutes. I hope this helps.