jayanna

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  1. You have most certainly had the influence of the Holy Spirit in your life. You have, you may not recognize it, you may not remember it, but he has been there. The Holy Ghost is also referred to as the Comforter, which is what you need now. You have called out, and I appreciate that you have a strong need and a desire. I have felt this moment, once when I accidently got on a website thinking it was mormon jokes, only to realize they weren't joking. I made the terrible mistake of continued reading. I read things that made me very uspet. At the time I thought they were enlightening, only I know that it was the opposite, they were destroying. There are only two forces at work on the earth...creating and destroying. That stuff is destroying your testimony, your self worth, your relationship with the Comforter which you so desperately now seek. I would suggest, friend, that you get out your scriptures. Search them. Has God already given you an answer in them? Search, read, read anything at first. I don't mean the online scriptures, I mean the physical book in your hands. Search anything that you are curious about, anything that occurs to you. Read until you calm down. Then read it like that person is speaking directly to you. Like you are the only person that has or will ever read it. It is for you personally. Then ponder. How do you feel when you read it? Why would God write so many scriptures? Would He want you to be able to be sealed to your family forever and live with Him? Did you live with Him before? Look that up....to whom did He say, "Before you were born I knew you?" Read about the parable of the seeds...where is that? Look it up. Read it. You choose which kind you are....it is not determined for you, you choose it. How? The seeds that are nourished, if you want to be one of those you have to nourish your testimony. You know how to do that, but you have let it wither in the sun, ponder how you feed a testimony, attend meetings, read scriptures daily, fhe, home teaching, come on you know these things...don't let it wither and die. How can you have a testimony of the priesthood, is it by reading about it, or is it by using it and seeing what it can do in the lives of others? Is the priesthood meant for others alone? Is it only given to those special, favored people? Nope, it is available to you, yes to you. You are loved, and you can use that priesthood as a tool to help others. You are wanted and you are needed. Now is the time to pray. You are not happy now. You have been doing things your way for a while and how do you feel? Humble yourself before your creator. Confess to him those things that you are sad about, ask him, as a child asks his father to help you feel better. Ask Him to send His comforter to you so that you can feel His love. Ask Him what He wants from YOU, and listen as that little light within you, that some call a conscience, answers that question. You will know what He wants you to do. Then DO IT. Don't sit on a fence. Don't go back and forth. Do it, even when that doubt tries to creep back. Even if others mock you. Even if you lack self confidence. Do it, and keep doing it, and don't give up until you get that ah ha moment...and you will. Do what He asks you to do, and eventually if you keep your eyes open for it, you will see a miracle. I have seen many, and so will you. Prepare yourself to attend the temple, and I promise you will see and do wonderful things which are directed by God. That adversary is doing the very thing that you have been warned he would try to do. Why are you falling for it? Your Father in Heaven loves you, and has given His only begotten Son so that you can return to live with Him. Search. Ponder. Pray. Then STAND, and do the will of the Lord.
  2. Yeah, MOE asked a question up my alley!!! Okay (rubbing hands together) lets talk library. I have worked in the ward library. It was my first calling. First, pray. It is the Church of Jesus Christ, and if it is His, then He should have a say. My first experience with having the Holy Spirit talk to me during a calling happened in my ward library. It was when I was looking for a hearing device for an older member. Someone had moved them. I was desperately searching in the cabinet they had been in for a long time. The Holy Spirit said, "Stand up, turn around, and look one shelf up." So I stopped my hands, stood up, turned about face, and looked up one shelf. There they were. The Lord is aware of every move in that library. Okay, next, you are on the right track in thinking about the people who will be using it. Each area of the population has different needs, some based on economic issues, some based on length of time in the gospel, some based on education level (though I have found that it usually does not stay a problem once the Spirit starts to educate them), some based on the amount of time the patrons/members have in using the materials. You also want to consider, are there going to be materials you do not wish to leave the building? How long can patrons/members check things out for? Do members get to come in the library and browse the shelves, or do they stand at the door and request what they need. Organizing the entire library will be based on this. For example, if members can come in and browse and be largely independent, things should be divided as Things Not to Leave the Building, and Things That May Be Checked Out. Do not limit yourself to enhancing one type of collection. Pictures are an important part of teaching. Many people are visual learners, especially children. FHE can be much better when pictures are included in the materials. Pictures for classes can be numbered and indexed according to principle taught, era, and people who are involved in the action depicted. You might want to consider making a couple of picture kits available for circulation. Music= again if you have materials that can be checked out you want to have them clearly marked. You must always keep in mind the budget. How many CDs will you need to keep on hand? Copies of Childrens Songbooks? What about small instruments/music time enhancements like sticks with ribbons on the end or shakers. Movies= you have VHS that need to be copied onto DVD and then archived. Archives are a common thing for libraries. Archives are usually done according to available space, and replacement ability. Some things that you have archived my be available online, some may be the only copy, in which case DVD is a wise decision. There should be a policy on archived video, you may want to check with your Bishop about that. Also, making a good video collection can really boost circulation. Once your video collection is indexed, let the ward know they can be checked out and used in their homes. New members especially cannot get enough of the church videos. When circulation is up, which you can show by keeping records, more funds can reasonably be applied to the library, and in turn invested in those collections. Magazines= how far back does your church magazine collection go? It may seem obsolete due to the use of the internet, but there is a reason that the library copy of the Ensign disappers for two weeks...sisters especially love to have a physical copy of the Ensign to browse in their down moments. Many members can get a copy of the ht/vt messages from it. You want it to be easily accessible, and yet it is not a good idea to have the most recent copy circulating. Most libraries (secular) keep the current issue of a magazine as a reference material, so it cannot be checked out, and only allow back issues to be checked out. This will allow all members to get a copy of the HT/Vt msg and not just the first person to snag it. My public library puts the current mag issue in a clear folder, held by a metal strip down the inside of the binding. This lets patrons and circulation staff know at a glance which issues can be taken and which must not. The Dec. issue is mucho important in each years collection as it indexes the entire year. You want to keep at least one copy, maybe two, and probably 3 years worth, depending on circulation, which should go up as you make changes to the current system. Equipment= inventory what equipment is available, what works, what is used, and what is lacking. If you have older members wanting to check out VHS, but all you want circulating are the DVD copies, you may consider a small DVD player available for check out. I know, we're living in a tough economy, but if you want to increase library use, some changes have to be made. It could even be a used one donated by a member who is upgrading their home system, but it really is a good idea, especially if you have members that are challenged in the home entertainment area. The missionaries sometimes have a problem showing new investigators videos when there is no DVD player in their home. If they have one that can be checked out that problem is solved. Other equipment can be microphones, copier, projectors, easels, hearing devices (that should be cleaned), CD players, and classroom materials. Books, ah, books, well, I'm not going to tell you which ones to make available as I do not claim to have stewardship. Investigators need BOM's and Bibles. You need to keep both in there, a very postive investigator in my ward turned away after finding the library had not one Bible in it. Also you may want to have an amount of Spanish copies. A book collection can be judged on many criteria...age of collection (newer collections are preferable as opposed to dated ones), condition of collection, and use of collection which reflects patron satisfaction. Each of these three categories are examined much the same way, except of usage and patron satisfacation, which is done by poll or survey, but I digress, nothing in the church of Jesus Christ is done by popular opinion, all is under direction, it is a house of order after all. Which ones to use as reference, and which to be circulated? Be aware that newer members could wish to read some of these, seeking meat when they are only ready for milk. Line upon line and all that. Anyway, if you start adding books that have been donated, BEWARE there is a trap, a pitfall if you will. Once people see donated books being circulated by the library, they will donate books and expect them to be included in the collection. These will inevitably include fiction. Yes there LDS romance books (much to my surprise) that members regard as being doctrinally instructive!!! Be prepared, therefore, when you have sisters (those kind little sisters with their little ones clinging to their skirts) who will tearfully hand you a brown paper bag stuffed to the brim with their favorite page-turners, and honestly believing that they are doing the ward a monumental service, be ready to explain to them why their books will never be seen lining the shelves when your personal favorites are being carried about the ward. Displays are a great idea. You don't have to have one permanently, but displays are amazingly dynamic. Displays will be the greatest, fastest method to show members what is available that interests them. Some will want videos, some old books, some new books, some music, and so on. Displays are the best way to advertise. They speak for themselves when you are too busy doing other things, and are a reminder to many to stop by the library. Eavesdrop when you see people looking at the display, ask them what type of things they would like to see. Share with them what is newly available. This will increase circulation. Records. Why keep a record? This will help you chart was is used, and what you need to get more of. If there are high demand items, you might want to put a shorter limit on circulation turn around. When it comes time to ask for more funds, these numbers can really help. They will help you determine where to spend the money after the manuals are purchased and distributed.
  3. I'm sorry if I offended you, Snow, I didn't mean to. I'm honestly not trying to be insulting, I just want to know where this definition of the word doctrine is coming from. Mine comes from these sources. If there is another place to find the definition you are referring to, please tell me where to find it. If it is from a popular consensus, that is fine, I just wouldn't know popular consensus on it, being from an area that has very few LDS per capita. I'm afraid it may simply be colloquial in nature. I'm only trying to understand you better, I need some common ground, a common meaning. BTW I don't spend a lot of time on the internet, but I am a librarian. In my experience one never outgrows dictionaries. Job security I know I still have a lot to learn, and Snow I know that you are very intelligent, and that you are exceptionally well read. I thought it would be a step forward if I shared where I was coming from, where I got my definition. I have spent most of my time as an adult convert learning by application. It is easier for me to learn through application. I can see the differences in life without the gospel vs. life with it because I saw my family dynamic without it, and then with it, and then judge by the outcome. I do read scriptures, talks, manuals, temple learning, some books by Talmage, not a whole lot of anything else so far. There is no Deseret bookstore here. I don't particularly feel prompted to get more books, maybe when I have a little more time as I've just learned to do genealogy. The words of the living prophets are very dear to me. I risked my life to follow them, and I have a testimony of them. When the missionaries first came to teach me I knew, I just knew that there were apostles on the earth. I knew that God wasn't dead, and I knew that He loves his children on earth, so He just had to send us apostles now more than ever. When I told the Elders that I thought there where apostles, and I just didn't know where to find them they showed me the pictures of the Presidency and the Quorum of the twelve. I was overwhelmed with relief and gratitude to them for being brave enough to share it with me. That moment has changed my life. At my first conference, Stake conference, I got to hear from an apostle, Elder Nelson. I was sitting in the back row with my two little baby girls, newly diagnosed with my heart problem, and struggling in every way I can think of, and there was a living apostle. He spoke about me! He didn't say my name, but he spoke about the missionaries in our ward visiting an investigator who had been looking for apostles, and quoted me even. I knew I was loved by my HF right then. I knew that He knew my name and had sent the Elders to my door. After the closing prayer, the missionaries came running up the stairs to me and told me that the leaders wanted to meet me. The crowd was huge, and I couldn't move very quickly carrying my girls since I was still passing out at odd moments. I got all the way down to the stage, and walked with them around the back. I met the Mission Pres, but didn't get to meet Elder Nelson because of the press of the crowd. I was afriad my daughter would get squeezed or stepped on. She was 3 and my youngest was one. I was standing with the Mission Pres, waiting patiently for them to get done shaking hands. There were a lot of people so it was taking quite a while. The sister that gave me a ride there insisted that we leave immediately. She said the whole thing was ridiculous, that no one wanted to meet me. She said that if I wanted a ride home I would have to leave. We lived about 45 minutes away, so I left without meeting him, but I'm not sad about it at all. The leaders asked the missionaries to go get me because they wanted to meet me, and that is good enough. I felt kinda like I left them hanging, but I told the SP later why I couldn't stay. I could have taken the opportunity to meet another apostle fairly recently. I was not sitting far away from him at a conference, but I decided there were a whole lot of other people that needed it more than me. I have my husband, he holds the priesthood, and can receive revelation in giving me blessings and teaching us in the home, and that is plenty. I do love conference and always hear something I need to learn. I often read the talks afterward and always learn things I didn't recall hearing at all.
  4. The Lord made Enoch a seer, and he did not have records to translate. 35 And the Lord spake unto Enoch, and said unto him: Anoint thine eyes with aclay, and wash them, and thou shalt see. And he did so. 36 And he beheld the aspirits that God had created; and he beheld also things which were not visible to the bnatural eye; and from thenceforth came the saying abroad in the land: A cseer hath the Lord raised up unto his people. 37 And it came to pass that Enoch went forth in the land, among the people, standing upon the hills and the high places, and cried with a loud voice, testifying against their works; and all men were aoffended because of him. 38 And they came forth to hear him, upon the high places, saying unto the atent-keepers: Tarry ye here and keep the tents, while we go yonder to behold the seer, for he prophesieth, and there is a strange thing in the land; a bwild man hath come among us. Samuel was also called a seer, without an records or mention of records to be translated: 9 (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to aenquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the bseer: for he that is now called a cProphet was beforetime called a dSeer.) and again in the same chapter 17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people. 18 Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer’s house is. 19 And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the aseer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart. The term seer is used interchangeably in the OT The use of the seer stones must be inclusive, not exlusive. The Lord would not have us sustain someone to be a seer, if they did not have the ability to do it. He does not ask of us that which we cannot do, He will always give us a means by which it can be done...
  5. I play the flute, really really well I think. I can sight read, and transpose if I need to, but it being a C instrument (though you can get other kinds of flutes) if I use piano music I can play it. I can play anything in our hymn book. I rarely get to. I think flutes bore people. I've been working on learning the piano. I can play with my right hand awesome, but my left, not so much. I am ambidextrous so it is not a coordination thing, it is the music reading thing...I'm just not used to the base clef. I have always wanted to learn to play a drum set. I can move all four of my limbs separately, if that makes any sense. I can tap a beat w/my left foot, sing and play my other three limbs with that tempo at the same time....I'm curious to see what I could do with a few lessons. I also sing soprano, with the ward choir :)
  6. 1. a particular principle, position, or policy taught or advocated, as of a religion or government: Catholic doctrines; the Monroe Doctrine. 2. something that is taught; teachings collectively: religious doctrine. 3. a body or system of teachings relating to a particular subject: the doctrine of the Catholic Church. Doctrine | Define Doctrine at Dictionary.com The definition of doctrine from the 'Teaching, No Greater Call' manual: To help class members understand the power that comes from studying and teaching the doctrines of the gospel, which are found in the scriptures and the teachings of latter-day prophets. Teaching, No Greater Call: A Resource Guide for Gospel Teaching Lesson 4: Teach the Doctrine Why is it important to teach the doctrine? Jesus commanded us to “teach one another the doctrine of the kingdom” (D&C 88:77). Doctrine is the word of God as found in the scriptures and the teachings of latter-day prophets and apostles. The word of God has power to change our lives. Teachers must ensure that they keep the doctrine pure by teaching gospel truths as the Lord has revealed them. You can do this by teaching from the scriptures and the words of the latter-day prophets. President Ezra Taft Benson said, “Always remember, there is no satisfactory substitute for the scriptures and the words of the living prophets. These should be your original sources” (The Gospel Teacher and His Message [1976], 6). Also make sure that you use Church-produced materials when you teach. This will help you keep the doctrine pure. Avoid speculation and private interpretations. Teach the Doctrine A prophet is a man who has been called by God to speak for Him. Prophets receive God’s word by revelation and are then commanded to preach to the people (see Amos 3:7; 1 Nephi 22:2; D&C 1:38; Bible Dictionary, “Prophet,” 754). We are blessed to be led by living prophets. Like the prophets of old, prophets today testify of Jesus Christ and teach His gospel. Their teachings are the mind and will of the Lord. Behold Your Little Ones: Nursery Manual Lesson 24: I Will Follow the Prophet Every definition I find of doctrine says that the words of the living prophets are doctrine. The fourth Sunday lessons for adults are from conference talks of the recent conference. If it is taught, then it is doctrine. I don't know where any other definition of doctrine would be. Living prophets: Unfortunately it seems to be a popular belief that they don't teach doctrine and that they are not necessary. I find that unusual considering that church members say the difference between our church and others is latter-day revelation...too bad so many believe the revelation stopped with Joseph Smith. Judging by the nursery manual quoted above (which I personally have taught out of) we actually teach it to our little ones, but don't believe it...."Like the prophets of old, prophets today testify of Jesus Christ and teach His gospel. Their teachings are the mind and will of the Lord." Hmph, well guess we'd better quit saying that. I have to admit, I'm a bit down about this. I've never been around a group of church members who don't believe the Lord tells the prophet what to say to us before now...and I'm feeling a bit alarmed and saddened, surprised, I had no idea...why even go to church then? Show? Something to talk about? All this time I thought others believed, this certainly does explain some things...stagnation, a feeling of apathy among some members I talk with, for example. Maybe the reason God is teaching us the same things over and over again is because we still haven't gotten it right. Personally, I learn new things all the time, especially when I go to the temple and read my manuals. The new RS book is very enlightening. I just learned huge huge things about women and the priesthood just this last week, between the new RS book, the temple, and some church history made available online thru lds.org. I was planning to go to the temple and talk to the temple pres...he always answers my questions and greets me often when I get there so I feel comfortable asking him a couple of things about the temple. But now I don't know. I'm all weirded out now. Feeling a bit paranoid about walking around in church. I thought I was one of many and evidently I'm not. I for one do not think I am educated on religion at all. I don't want to be educated on religion, I want to be educated about Jesus Christ....and I can't get that from someone who He doesn't speak to. If He doesn't speak to them, then they are speculating, and speculation I don't need.
  7. I can see what you are saying about your idea of a 'seer', but that does not mean that we do not get current revelation directly from God since Joseph Smith. What about the ending of the practice of polygamy, or the direction from the Lord to make the priesthood available to all worthy male members of the church? That was made under direct revelation, not a dream, in the temple after much prayer. [Priesthood Extended to All Worthy Males] - New Era Aug. 1978 - new-era If I remember correctly, Joseph Smith also taught that a living prophet is more important than a dead one. the days of the Prophet Joseph Smith: “I will refer to a certain meeting I attended in the town of Kirtland in my early days. At that meeting some remarks were made that have been made here today, with regard to the living prophets and with regard to the written word of God. The same principle was presented, although not as extensively as it has been here, when a leading man in the Church got up and talked upon the subject, and said: ‘You have got the word of God before you here in the Bible, Book of Mormon, and Doctrine and Covenants; you have the written word of God, and you who give revelations should give revelations according to those books, as what is written in those books is the word of God. We should confine ourselves to them.’ “When he concluded, Brother Joseph turned to Brother Brigham Young and said, ‘Brother Brigham I want you to go to the podium and tell us your views with regard to the living oracles and the written word of God.’ Brother Brigham took the stand, and he took the Bible, and laid it down; he took the Book of Mormon, and laid it down; and he took the Book of Doctrine and Covenants, and laid it down before him, and he said: ‘There is the written word of God to us, concerning the work of God from the beginning of the world, almost, to our day. And now,’ said he, ‘when compared with the living oracles those books are nothing to me; those books do not convey the word of God direct to us now, as do the words of a Prophet or a man bearing the Holy Priesthood in our day and generation. I would rather have the living oracles than all the writing in the books.’ That was the course he pursued. When he was through, Brother Joseph said to the congregation; ‘Brother Brigham has told you the word of the Lord, and he has told you the truth.’” (Conference Report, October 1897, pp. 18–19.) Ironically, the dead prophet which is often more revered than the live one is telling us that our live one is more important than all of the standard works. And please also consider the following found by Loren C Dunn in the historical records of the April 1876 Conference. A Living Prophet - general-conference and was shared by her during the 1976 conference, the year that the priesthood was made available to every worthy male member.... Among the teachings that caught my eye at that April 1876 conference were these words from Wilford Woodruff, and I quote, “It may be asked—What are the commandments of the Lord? Many of them are contained in these records, the Bible, Book of Mormon and the Book of Doctrine and Covenants; and we have the living oracles with us, and have had from the commencement. The Lord will never leave his kingdom without a lawgiver, leader, president … to direct the affairs of his Church on the earth, for the reason that it is the dispensation of the fullness of times, in which God has set up a kingdom which is to be an everlasting kingdom, and to whose dominion there will be no end.” (Journal of Discourses, 18:189). That caused me to reflect on the absolute importance of a living oracle, and also on the words of Elder Orson F. Whitney of the Council of the Twelve, who said: “The Latter-day Saints do not do things because they happen to be printed in a book. They do not do things because God told the Jews to do them; nor do they do or leave undone anything because of instructions that Christ gave to the Nephites. Whatever is done by this Church is because God speaking from heaven in our day has commanded this Church to do it. No book presides over this Church and no books lie at its foundation. You cannot pile up books enough to take the place of God’s priesthood inspired by the power of the Holy Ghost.” (Conference Reports, Oct. 1916.) Elder Whitney was not taking away from the power and majesty of the scriptures—he was just putting them into perspective. He also said, “No man ought to contend for what is in the books in the face of God’s mouthpiece who speaks for him and interprets his word. To so contend is to defer to the dead letter in preference to the living oracles, which is always a false position.” All of these sources make it perfectly clear that living oracles matter more than dead ones. Of course a college degree does not qualify one to be a priesthood holder...if we take Jesus for an example, where in the NT did he receive his worldly formal education, what of His apostles? They were laborers, workers, a tax collector, a murderer of Christians...The pharisees were the ones with education, having been devout studiers of the Torah, and where did that get them? It is more important to be humble when it comes to being a servant of the Lord, than it is to be worldy wise or rich. You can't fill a cup that's already full. We are supposed to attain the highest level of education, and a degree in religious studies is wonderful, but it is the Lord that qualifies us for the work, not a degree, or pedigree, or money...can anyone think of more e's? Im out.
  8. Yes, actually, the SP is probably the only person he CAN talk to about it, other than prayer. Nobody else has authority.
  9. oh, Matthew, I think I understand what you are saying about your quote about what constituted seers, but that was seers in former times... a link to def of seer Seer
  10. He does have discernment. I love him:wub:
  11. I just remembered something. My husband has quite a talent. When we go for walks in the woods (some would say 'hiking' but it seems hiking requires strenuous activity of which I have none) we can be walking along a trail. I get really excited if an animal runs across and I see it...oooo look a ???? !!!! My hubby laughs usually when I do this, and I say that every time. He says to me, stop, so I stop, and he starts pointing out all the animals I am missing because they blend in so well and I don't notice them. That's when I really feel like a bonehead. He does this in the zoo too when we are looking in a pen or the reptile house and it seems empty to me. He can spot them every time. I think some things are like that with the gospel. It can be going on all around us and we don't even notice it, we don't have eyes trained to notice it. I think this role of seer can be one of those things. Just because it is not obvious to some does not mean that it is not there. I would like to promise you that we would not be asked to sustain someone as a seer if they were not a seer. It is a necessary part of leading the church, especially right now. I am a little too enthusiastic sometimes and I know I might come across the wrong way, and I'm sorry if I offended anyone. I really do think that translating the ever-so-important records is a way to use the role of seer, and I hope they keep it up :) It is the only way that many people in my area have of finding their lost family members, and it is a testimony to many (including nonmembers here) that it is the work of the Lord to translate these for us.
  12. Thanks, original, I am looking up the meaning of homiletical right now :/ But please click on the link, as you will see it is not just a comment made at conference, it is the topic of the entire talk. Though, I would like to also say, that when I see someone with a tattoo, no matter what calling or if I have never seen them before, I never think to myself,,"Now there is someone who is not obedient to the gospel." I never ever do that. I hate that actually, you cannot tell by looking at someone whethere or not they are on the path back to their Heavenly Father or not. I think it is very important that those that are reading this understand, we cannot look at someone and tell if they are working towards who the Lord wants them to be or not. We may look at someone and see all of the things we might expect from a righteous man of God, when actually, he is committing terrible sins to himself and others when no one is looking...and other times we can see someone smoking even, and they are currently living the gospel as much as they know it so far. Maybe they don't know about the Word of Wisdom yet, maybe they are wrestling with some other improvement right now, maybe they are preparing to quit but not there yet...we don't know. I was just responding to the OP's initial inquiry about it being from a prophet. Yes it is. I gave a link that is a really good one for this particular issue. I would also like to say, that when a prophet of the Lord gives us counsel, I think it is a good idea to listen, especially when it is endorsed by the entire quorum of the twelve as this one was. Oh, and thank you for the compliments, original! I like you too!
  13. A seer is also what a Patriarch is. When we get a Patriarchal Blessing, in it when learn of our past maybe traits we had in the pre-existence (that's what is in mine anyway), what tribe of the 12 tribes we are, warnings of the present and guidance for our future trials and blessings, mine even states a few things about work I'll do in the millenium. This is another way the role of seer is used in the church. A Seer does not have to use the interpreters...a seer sees things that have been, that are, and that are to come. That is how the prophets can warn us of things that are to come. Before Hurricane Katrina, the storehouses around that area were stocked with more than usual. They were prepared for something to happen, this is not an accident. We have to have a seer to protect us from what will be, such as the current debt crisis. We have a seer for a prophet now, and several seers to fill the callings they have been given.
  14. Well, if you will click the link, you will see that it was a conference address. A Talk given by the Prophet in Conference, not doctrine? Well, ponder it and pray about it, that's all I can say.
  15. 12 And I say unto thee again: Knowest thou of any one that can translate? For I am desirous that these records should be translated into our language; for, perhaps, they will give us a knowledge of a remnant of the people who have been destroyed, from whence these records came; or, perhaps, they will give us a knowledge of this very people who have been destroyed; and I am desirous to know the cause of their destruction I don't think it is off track at all. People that are dead, old records, baptisms of dead, endowments, sealings of families long separated, what better thing could it be used for? The Lord commanded that it be done, and he is given this abilty in order to do it. And I"M SO JAZZED about it. Been working on my family history, and I think anyone who squints at scans of old hand-written records can understand my meaning, the Lord's hand has to be in it for it to be right. Whew great stuff!
  16. Original, that is so great that you got to serve in China. I bet they really had to begin at the beginning with the gospel, and I bet you showed that diligence, patience, and desire to learn you developed in childhood.
  17. This is an older thread, but I have found it very interesting, recently my hubby told me that the church leadership, through the area seventy, SP, and on down to him, as expressed an urge to exercise priesthood by giving blessings more. They have been told in their meetings that there is a lack, maybe just in this region, of giving blessing where they are needed. I do live in an area, though, that has a signficiant amount of adult converts and new members/ investigators. Many times investigators don't know what a blessing is, or if they have read about it in the Bible, they may not know that one can be performed by the Elders, their home teachers (which they have never had before) or the other men they have met at church. A few have asked if they need to see an apostle for a healing blessing, not knowing that most adult men in the ward have the M. preisthood and can perform one for him/her. My hubby was explaining this when he was going to do such things on a much increased basis. I'm glad to see him go out and do these things. I am much comforted that blessings are given more frequently now, some people go years without them unnecessarily.
  18. Okay, asked in another thread, and I thought this was a good question so I'm starting a new thread just for it :) YAY! Has has the gift of seership (as defined in Mosiah 8:13) been publicly manifest in the Church since the days of Joseph Smith? If it has been utilized, where? If it has not been utilized, why not? It is being utilized!!! This is great news! And in many ways! I'm going to start us off with one, Mosiah, Chapter 8 Mosiah 8 13 Now Ammon said unto him: I can assuredly tell thee, O king, of a man that can atranslate the records; for he has wherewith that he can look, and translate all records that are of ancient date; and it is a gift from God. And the things are called binterpreters, and no man can look in them except he be commanded, lest he should look for that he ought not and he should perish. And whosoever is commanded to look in them, the same is called cseer. Right now, right very now while we are sitting at our computers this has been commanded to others and they are working away. They are using this revelation, this seership to translate old records so they can be read and understood and used to do the work of many waiting on the other side of the veil. I am very grateful for this b/c we have so many new records now, like the records of the Freemen bank, American Indian records, and immigration records from Ellis island, as well as overseas records that are hand-written, mispelled, in foreign languages and blurred by time. This information is currently skillfully brought back to us from dusty corners and back rooms, unearthed, uncloseted, and being made understood by the seer ability that has been given through the prophets to those that are asked, after a commandment from the Lord to have it done. Precious souls, names whom have been temporarily lost can be brought back again through this amazing ability...and not only does the prophet have this, many members of the church like you and me, are using this on a dialy basis. It is wornderful to witness. Thank you to all those that are helping with this monumental, historic work!
  19. OOooo, that is a good one, and one I'd love to have a crack at, but I think we may be hijacking PC's thread, new one maybe?
  20. Today? Well, I'm sick today so I'm feeling sorry for myself activities: I also had to work on Sunday...still feeling sorry for myself dress: I wore the most comfortable thing I could get away with, no make-up, and I didn't even put in my contacts, so glasses. I usually have the following priorities in my dress 1. suit the current situation (be it weather or social or practical) 2. comfort to avoid distractions 3. dress to convey attitude of respect to others and myself
  21. I know, but sometimes I think we all do for a little while. Sometimes, I do something maybe I shouldn't have and later really regret it. Sometimes they counsel something and I'm slow to really accept it and live it. I'm glad I get new chances to try again The most important part of that one is follow them and be blessed. It is true, any time I have decided to follow their counsel right away, there was a blessing. It is not just a blessing for in heaven, but a blessing for now. It amazes me sometimes, it shouldn't I know, but I'm still in awe when something I do because I was told to just works, things click right into place. lol I don't know why I have to make things hard on my self. btw, I tried to make my last post rainbow, but, sigh, it didn't turn out.
  22. Here is a really fantastic article by Ezra Taft Benson: Fourteen Fundamentals in Following the Prophet - Liahona June 1981 - liahona the 14 fundamentals First: The prophet is the only man who speaks for the Lord in everything. Second: The living prophet is more vital to us than the Standard Works. Third: The living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet. Fourth: The prophet will never lead the Church astray. Fifth: The prophet is not required to have any particular earthly training or diplomas to speak on any subject or act on any matter at any time. Sixth: The prophet does not have to say “Thus saith the Lord” to give us scripture. Seventh: The prophet tells us what we need to know, not always what we want to know. Eighth: The Prophet is not limited by men’s reasoning. Ninth: The prophet can receive revelation on any matter—temporal or spiritual. Tenth: The prophet may well advise on civic matters Eleventh: The two groups who have the greatest difficulty in following the prophet are the proud who are learned and the proud who are rich. Twelfth: The prophet will not necessarily be popular with the world or the worldly. Thirteenth: The prophet and his counselors make up the First Presidency—The highest quorum in the Church. Fourteenth: The prophet and the presidency—the living prophet and the First Presidency—follow them and be blessed—reject them and suffer. Those are not my personal interpretation, they are directly copied, and are explained the article linked above.
  23. Prophets, Seers, and Revelators - general-conference In our baptism interviews, recommend interviews, and at every conference we sustains our prophets and apostles as prophets, seers, and revelators. I have raised my hand to sustain them as such many many times. I also try to sustain them by following their leadership, and supporting them by doing those things that are asked of me. I find it so very sad that the pharisees who said they would not have killed Jeremiah, got be present to see Jesus teach, heal, and perform many countless miracles did not see what was right before them. They had a current prophet that they regarded as less than thier dead ones. I personally have a testimony that one such as Moses, Elijah, Joseph Smith, and Brigham Young is alive and leading us today. He weilds the power of God on the earth, shares with us direction from our Heavenly Father, and currently holds the authority and all keys of the priesthood. Prophets, Seers, and Revelators - general-conference Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said: "In a world of unrest and fear, political turmoil and moral drift, I testify that Jesus is the Christ—that He is the living Bread and living Water—still, yet, and always the great Shield of safety in our lives, the mighty Stone of Israel, the Anchor of this His living Church. I testify of His prophets, seers, and revelators, who constitute the ongoing foundation of that Church and bear witness that such offices and such oracles are at work now, under the guidance of the Savior of us all, in and for our very needful day. Of these truths and of the divinity of this work I bear witness. Of them I am a witness, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen. Our loving Heaven Father has not left us alone to blow in the wind, He guides us now through the trials that are in the world today. I have searched, pondered and prayed, and have a testimony that this is true. I used to be afraid when I first started studying the gospel, that I would find some little kernel of truth that would make me not believe in the apostles. I was afraid that I would learn something that would make be not believe in the Church of Jesus Christ. I studied nonetheless and the more I study the scriptures the more true it gets. When studying, I don't really read a lot of books that are not issued by the church about the gospel. I do not confess to be an intellectual. Reading scripture and the words of latter-day apostles, I can see that the gospel flows through them. I can see the flow of it, like a river. I can see it all has the same author. The steps are search, ponder and pray. Search the words of prophets, ponder our own understanding, and pray for revelation. This is how we can learn if something doctrinal is true. Sometimes when it comes to a practice, like tithing for example, you have to live it before you can really get a testimony of it, but when it comes to understanding something that is written, search, ponder and pray.
  24. When we are interviewed for baptism, and for our temple recommend we are asked if we sustain President Thomas S. Monson as a prophet, seer, and revelator. We also sustain them in this at conference. There is a current seer, and his name is Thomas S. Monson.
  25. We don't have where it was first revealed, but we do have a church of restoration. If it was lost, it woudln't need to be revealed. There were sealings in OT times. Adam and Eve were sealed, Abraham and Sarah were sealed. It was lost, now it is restored. This is not a new church, and you know that. Many books of scripture are yet to come. Some old that are brought back to us, some new that are yet to be written. The sealing keys were not new to Joseph Smith, Elijah had them. This is ancient doctrine.