AR_Member

Too loudmouth_mormon, Elder Oaks elequently explained how the source of our testimony has to be equal parts us and our leaders.

From the mouth of two or three witnesses... I think that combined with these fundamentals and the very direct statements from Pres Packer, Elder Christopherson, and Pres Uchtdorf on what is and is not divine law, this should (but sadly won't) silence those who feel that they live in special cirumstances that preclude them from obedience. I also noticed increased emphasis on agency and the right/responsibility we have to choose. So What does this tell me? There is a law irrevocably decreed in the heavens that cannot be voted out of existence just because we don't agree with them. Prophets have boldly proclaimed them to be the ONLY way we can draw nearer to God. We are to act and not be acted upon by choosing to follow what the prophets teach.

There is a wonderful book by Brent Top called "Glimpses beyong Death's Doors: and LDS perspective to Near Death Experiences" that gives some wonderful insights to the spirit world with a lot of lesser known quotes from church leaders. The Prophet Jospeh Smith was particularly interested in the spirit world and in Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith he mentions that all forms of animal like will exist in the Celestial Kimgdom of God. All things were created spiritually before they were created physically. Your beloved family pet will be there too, not selaed to your family, but as one of God's creations.

I would recommend going to the topical guide in the Scriptures under "Counsel" and look at everything in the D&C, specifically D&C 101:8, 103:5, and 105:37 where the saints were under condemnation for esteeming the counsels of the Lord (through his servants) lightly. Brigham Young once said that he never delivered a sermon from the pulpit that was not scripture. Counsels are a form of correction. They put us on a higher standard than the rest of the world. When we refuse to accept them with the same seriousness and regard as the "temple questions" we are leaving ourlseves open to the firey darts of the advesary.

I would like to simply address the concern that our good baptist friend has expressed about "another" gosple. And I would like to do it using the Book of Mormon itself. As has already been declared by so many wonderful members of this forum, we believe it to be the word of God and ANOTHER testiment of Jesus Christ. Early in its pages a young prophet, Nephi, desired to see in vision what his prophet father had seen about a tree of life. In his account he beheld in revelation the end of times, similar to what John the revelator had seen. He said that he saw in vision the 12 apostle of the Lamb of God go forward preaching the plain and precious truths of the eternal Gosple of Jesus Christ and that as they went forward he saw a book that "proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew; and when it proceeded forth from the mouth of a Jew it contained the fulness of the gospel of the Lord, of whom the twelve apostles bear record; and they bear record according to the truth which is in the Lamb of God, 1 Nephi 13:24" As that book went out to all the world Nephi saw the formation of a great and abominable church, just as John saw the mother of all harlots, Satan, who is the enemy of all righteousness and his followers, "for behold, they have taken away from the gospel of the Lamb many parts which are plain and most precious; and also many covenants of the Lord have they taken away, v26" He then sees the people of our recent past, God fearing and faithful, but missing those plain and precious truths that were taught in purity by the apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ and makes this promise to them and to us, "...I will be merciful unto the Gentiles in that day, insomuch that I will bring forth unto them, in mine own power, much of my gospel, which shall be plain and precious, saith the Lamb. For, behold, saith the Lamb: I will manifest myself unto thy seed, that they shall write many things which I shall minister unto them, which shall be plain and precious; and after thy seed shall be destroyed, and dwindle in unbelief, and also the seed of thy brethren, behold, these things shall be hid up, to come forth unto the Gentiles, by the gift and power of the Lamb. And in them shall be written my agospel, saith the Lamb, and my brock and my salvation vs 34-36" "39 And after it had come forth unto them I beheld other books, which came forth by the power of the Lamb, from the Gentiles unto them, unto the convincing of the Gentiles and the remnant of the seed of my brethren, and also the Jews who were scattered upon all the face of the earth, that the records of the prophets and of the twelve apostles of the Lamb are true. 40 And the angel spake unto me, saying: These last records, which thou hast seen among the Gentiles, shall establish the truth of the first, which are of the twelve apostles of the Lamb, and shall make known the plain and precious things which have been taken away from them; and shall make known to all kindreds, tongues, and people, that the Lamb of God is the Son of the Eternal Father, and the Savior of the world; and that all men must come unto him, or they cannot be saved. 41 And they must come according to the words which shall be established by the mouth of the Lamb; and the words of the Lamb shall be made known in the records of thy seed, as well as in the records of the twelve apostles of the Lamb; wherefore they both shall be established in bone; for there is one God and one Shepherd over all the earth. " In my mind that simple declaration settles all doubts as to whether there is another gospel being taught. Ezekiel taught the same concept that two book would be used together as one to establish the truth of God. I add my own testimony that the Book of Mormon is what we declare it to be, the word of God, another witness of the Lord Jesus Christ. I pray this helps answer your question.

Teach the scriptures. Object lessons really aren't all that effective. Read these words of instruction from J Reuben Clark, specifically delivered to Church educators: Try these talks: LDS.org - Ensign Article - “A Teacher Come from God†LDS.org - Ensign Article - Excerpts from <i>The Charted Course of the Church in Education</i> LDS.org - Liahona Article - Teaching and Learning in the Church

A good read with regards to the repentance process is "The Miracle of Forgiveness" by Spencer W Kimball. In it he discusses what types of sin that need to be confessed with the appropriate priesthood authority; however, as the scriptures teach it would be impossible to list every possible sin. I testify that the bishop of the ward is a common judge in Israel and in very rare cases does that humble servant take this responsibility lightly. In an instant where I found myself in need of correction from my bishop I found the process to be as I would imagine the Savior approaching the issue. Remember when the sinner woman came to him and anointed his head with oil and washed his feet with her tears he lovingly reproveder her sins but with the tender love of one who sacrificed all for our benefit invited the woman to sin no more. There was so much love in that room and a powerful spirit that let me know that I was loved and that this process is for MY benefit. The bishop will only ask questions to understand how best to assist in the repentance process, led by the spirit. It is a most sacred experience between him, you, and the Lord. If it is approached with a broken heart and a contrite spirit it can one of the most uplifting experiences in your life, to feel God's overwhelming love. Remember, it is Satan who is the accuser, Christ is our advocate and so are his servants.

Nephi also makes mention that he and his people built a temple after the manner of the temple of Solomon (2 Nephi 5:16) which seems to suggest that there is a pattern of righteous Jews building temples outside Jerusalem.

All of these posts are very informative and maybe it would be helpful to also discuss what a covenant is. "Saving Ordinances" are "saving" because of the covenants that are made as a part of the ordinance and the resulting promises. A covenant is essentially a sacred commitment we make to our Heavenly Father and upon the faithfulness of our keeping that commitment He promises us specific blessings. The reason these covenants are so important towrds our eventual exaltation is that it is a tool that helps us stay on the straight an narrow. For example, when we are baptized we commit or covenant to take upon ourselves the name of Christ, keep His commandments, and always remember Him. By striving to keep this commitment in our everyday life we are a little better today than we were yesterday. As a result of this commitment our Father in Heaven promises us the companionship of His Holy Spirit, always! So what we have done by keeping this covenant is we have become a little closer in character to what our Father in Heaven is (What manner of men ought ye to be, even as I am.) Through additional covenants (line upon line) we continue the process of being made perfect through the atoning blood of Jesus Christ and increasing the level of commitment we have made to follow him, repenting when we fall short. His greatest promised blessing is to become as He is and inherit the Celestial Kingdom.