CommanderSouth

In this case, the restored gospel. I believe I have a testimony, I know the things I have felt in relationship to the gospel. But as the need for faith would have it, the nature of how one of my strongest testimony building blocks came about still leaves me to think it is possible what I felt was not the spirit. One thing I always find myself doing is being critical and hyper analyzing everything said by apostles, and by people in the church, and also doing the same thing when reading the Book of Mormon. It seems I am always trying to fault find. I sincerely wish I could accept the church, and just move on, but it always seems like I am digging up the seed talked about in Alma 32... Thoughts? and Thanks!

Well, I can get excited about stuff, and I think that is a point I also wanted to throw out there but forgot. In so many things, I feel like the seeds cast on the rocks from the parable of the sower. I spring up quickly, get excited about something, and then fall back into the status quo. Interestingly enough, I love gaming, I would call myself a gamer, but when it comes to sticking with something, unless the story has grabbed me, or I am really having a lot of fun I don't seem to be able to stick with something. I threw this in there because that was the manifestation of my seeming problem with apathy that was apparent at the time I posted this. No past diagnoses of anything, and my parents seem to be interested in things, mostly church (not LDS, which makes it fun), but dad likes cars and the history channel, mom likes cosby and such sitcoms, but they aren't out golfing or doing anything really. I don't know, I doubt I am clinically depressed, but I would like to have more drive or passion about at least -something- :)

And I think I should reply and put the connection I am making in my own mind. I think the cause of not gaming is the same problem as my not caring, the apathy... I saw the connection but I want to make sure I am fleshing it out. Meeting new people is like my least favorite thing to do. I don't hyperventilate in crowds or anything, but going new places, doing new things, unless I was the one who came up with it, and even then sometimes, I get verrrry nervous.

I just can't keep playing WoW, EQ, LotRO, EQII, EVE, SWG, WAR, CoD, BFBC2, or any game with any type of regularity. I keep hearing stories of those addicted to WoW, but I can't seem to get hooked, which only bothers me because my friends play. I want to play with them but I can't stay excited about it. Of course, the only reason I post this is because it carries over into other parts of my life in the form of apathy. I want to care, but usually I just feel like, Meh. I want to go to college, or at least do something with my life, but I have trouble sticking with things, even technical certs to show I know what I am talking about in relation to computers :) In that vein it feels like I really have to work to keep my testimony, I often feel I could turn, walk away from the restored gospel, going back to my pentecostal upbringing and not miss a beat, I usually always believe in God (or at least tell myself he's there and stop worrying about it), so I don't think I would walk away from all faith, but I feel like I could take down the first vision picture, Brother Joseph picture, Quorum of the 12 and the first presedency pictures, toss out the samuel the lamanite poster (What can I say, I went over the top since I converted a year ago), and not miss anything. But I do know what I have felt in relation to the church, so I plug on. In fairness, I haven't been to church in a month and a half as I've been spending the weekends at my brother's place. I should be able to go this weekend though, assuming I can get a ride. So I figure some of the weakness of faith is mine, but I still feel very similar even during times of activity. Wow, I didn't really think this topic needed to go this far, and I feel kinda off throwing this all out in front of strangers, but honestly, maybe a fresh set of eyes could be of help, so... Just wanted to get your thoughts on fighting apathy in general, both church and non church related.

Is this Millet talking, or Joseph? I looked through Lecture 4 (Technically, I searched the Lectures for the word Cease) and find nothing mentioning the term. If I understand the versification of the Lectures 13 simply says he will always do right. I am not trying to say I think God will fall, I don't believe that for a second, but will and could are two different things.

I was listening to Skousen's talk on the Atonement when this thought came to me :)

Alma 42:13,22,25 Mormon 9:19

Hey why not. Alright, this was something I was thinking about, and I think this is my stance on the issue now. The Book of Mormon teaches God could cease to be God. The Bible Teaches God can't lie. With one fell swoop I was able to logically overcome the omnipotence problem, as well as some of the problems one might have with Jesus and the Father being God, but there only being one God. I submit, God is a title, and a name in English given to the Father. With that logic in mind, the statement God (Father) could cease to be God (Title). If God were to lie, he would change, and thus cease to be God. The requirements for the title are perfection and thus we know as long as God is God, he is perfect, and "not a man that he should lie." This also clears up Jesus, and God, being God, as both are perfect, and there being only one God (title). Jesus simply submits to the will of his father. I don't know if I explained it properly, but it does make a lot of sense to me...

Can you elaborate on that please? Thanks!

I'm sorry I should have been a bit more specific, I have a knack for being vague... I am speaking of the Gods who created heaven and earth. Basically the genesis story with a lot of bonus "s"es thrown in :) "In the beginning, the head of the Gods called a council of the Gods: and they came together and concocted a plan to create the world and people it." (Joseph Smith, Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 349.) That is the sort of thing I am wondering about. Are these the Gods that would come from the regression of God's (an offshoot of the God as man business) or are these different?

It seems like a pretty big thing to do doctrinally, but I Haven't heard too much about who the Gods spoken of in Abraham actually are. Does the church have doctrine on this? Thoughts? Thanks!

I was thinking about this on my drive into work and I have been trying to work them out. I was initially worried it came from 2 different speeches and may have been contradictory, but was somewhat relieved to see both came from the King Follet Discourse. That helps inasmuch as it would imply it made sense to Joseph, but it still doesn't help that it doesn't make sense to me. It seems if you go the route of God's God it starts infinite regression as far as I can tell, but how does that make sense in the idea of God basically being eternal... Thanks for the insight...

I have heard both ways on marriage basically being a commandment. I have heard if we have the chance and don't take it then we don't get another shot (I remember hearing a story from President Kimball talking about a young couple having a civil marriage rather than a temple marriage and they died in a car crash, and that they were done, no second chances). I have also heard that if we follow the commandments and marriage doesn't present itself then we will have no blessing withheld from us. All that being said, I prefer to leave it in the hands of God, maybe President Kimball was right, or maybe he wasn't "a prophet being a prophet" at that time. Either way, I would think it is best to err on the side of temple marriage if at all possible.

His last wife was a latter day saint, which makes me wonder. Assuming he was not (which is correct as far as I can tell), why would a LDS woman marry a non member, when they believe their own exaltation is on the line. Of course, this may have something to do with why they divorced, but I don't want to sling mud, I just find this curious. Thoughts?

True, but I thought that was because you wouldn't see other people playing for whole weeks? *rimshot*

I thank you, I always hated it when Dad used the "rat droppings" argument against me, at least I have some type of retort if I ever wanted to reply...

And I agree, which is why I am looking for insight. Violence is a tricky thing. If I threw out things that simulate killing I lose the two main genres I play with my friends, FPS and RTS. But no one ever stops kids from pointing at each other and saying "bang" (not usually anyway), so this really isn't anything more than a step up from that. I don't worry too much about it because it hasn't made me want to kill anyone so. But usually there is at least some cursing in pretty much all games, which is making me wonder where to draw the line on that.

Mark 7:14-16 Though I may be taking this out of context...

Ok, so I am in the process of evaluating my life (the one process that never ends :). I am really feeling I should trade in GTAIV. That's an easy enough choice to make, but how far do you walk down that road. How much is too much? If I wanted to get rid of every single game, movie, or song I have with any swearing, swaths of highly enjoyable content would be gone. Now should I be enjoying something like that, I do not know. Part of me says no, but part of me goes to the words of Christ to try to justify it, that being, it isn't what goes in that defiles, but what comes out. That being said, I know I need to further change, as I caught my foot on the dog's cage this morning and caught myself saying "mother", mind you I didn't finish, but nonetheless it bothered me, and right before I was sitting down to watch General Conference no less. It's funny, violence and language don't seem to bother me unless they are uneedfully gratuitous, but I try always to either skip movies with sex scenes in them, or in the case of stuff in shows like 24, just fast forward. So on the topic of movies and such, how much leaven spoils that batch? And if the only "guideline" we have is to avoid R rated films, how "PG-13" is ok? Thanks for the insight...

Sounds Ironic... :)

I think a Journal is an integral part. Personal Revelation as I recognize it comes most frequently when writing down other things I have received. I probably start needing to be more diligent with that.

This is something I am working hard on (though not hard enough it sometimes seems). I just finished the BoM, D&C, and PoGP this week. Obviously I plan on going back through them again very soon. I have been listening to many talks, and praying daily (I do feel as if I "pray without ceasing" inasmuch as I almost constantly am in a prayerful mood, but I guess there would be occasionaly ceasing...), and reading the scriptures. I am sure the whole thing isn't a magical shot in the arm and you never have to worry again type of experience, but I long for more sturdy faith. I always second guess my decision to join the church based on my parents. I feel my parents are far more spiritual than I an neither seem to feel anything when I talk about the church, and other than sympathy when we watch things like The Work and the Glory, Mom doesn't come away any closer. I just am pulling to try to grow my faith so I am not always on the edge of doubt. Well I am off to bed, I appreciate any comments of insite... Thanks!

I love how Hockey Heroes "Check" Melting Ice Caps - ZAMBONIS TO THE RESCUE!

Just got settled in from work and running. The more I talk to people the more I realize how shielded I have been. I am 24, and I grew up in a devout Pentecostal home, we've been to a plethora of meetings of all branches, Assemblies of God, Church of God, Church of God of Prophecy, from the normal sunday service to the "Signs and Wonders Campmeeting" of the mid 1990s with Rodney Browne. I've watched Copeland, Hinn, Duplantis, Crouch, Roberts and all the like growing up. It wasn't until about I was 20ish I started talking to the Churches of Christ at work, what an experience, it was like someone through water in my face. They don't believe in instrumental worship, the gifts of the spirit, basically NOTHING like we did. Of course this threw me into the whole "Joseph Smith" mode of thinking, then ended up with me in the LDS church. So if I am not as well traveled as most, I do apologize. I know that a lot of baptists teach eternal security, but seeing as we didn't really go to many baptist meetings, I am not well versed in their doctrine, or others who profess such things.

Correct me if I am wrong, but don't the baptists teach if someone "backslides" they weren't saved to begin with? Also, even though the baptists believe in eternal security, do they preach you can sin and still make it to heaven? I would assume they preach against sin just like anyone else.