jdf135

A little late to this discussion but I'm curious about the contributor's thoughts: Is it possible that the day of the Saviors 2nd coming is NOT set in regards to a calendar day but more determined by the conditions of the world? Could that day be flexible depending on how soon people reach a given threshold of wickedness? Was God waiting until the people were ripe in iniquity until he sent the flood or was the "ripeness" already known by God (I am in a phase of pondering the spectrum of pre-destiny vs. foreknowledge)?

Thanks for mention of peace. I think this is a much more appropriate word for how one might feel when living gospel principles. I know it has been used much in the church. I personally feel it should be used much more and possibly in place of the word joy in many circumstances.

I am very frustrated by the way the English word "joy" gets used in gospel discussion and would maybe like to find a different word or just be clearer on what we mean when we say "joy." To me "joy" is not a productive word because it makes lots of people feel they are failing when they are living the gospel teachings the best they know how but are still not feeling "joyful." I know there is a lot of discussion about the difference between "happiness" and "joy" - "joy" meaning more durable happiness -- but there seems to be an implication in the church that "joy" is an unending absence of sorrow or stream of contentment that comes from living the gospel to its fullest. President Nelson's recent talk on joy gives some insight to a possible, better definition of the word saying, "If we focus on the joy that will come to us, or to those we love, what can we endure that presently seems overwhelming, painful, scary, unfair, or simply impossible?" (emphasis added). In this case he is not really talking about "joy" in the sense of persisting, current contentment but talking about how we should focus on the idea of potential "joy" in the future which thought will give us the strength to endure this life. In the body of his talk, he seems to suggest that joy is not a persistent feeling but a potential, temporary state amidst affliction. I don't think Jesus was "joyful" at the very moment he was bleeding at every pore or having nails put in his hands. I can believe he may have been anticipating great joy in the future and as a result was able to endure, but was he really feeling "persisting contentment" when he called out "why has thou forsaken me?" Jesus, the most perfect of us all, is described by Isaiah as "a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief." Multitudes of prophets -- from Jeremiah to George Albert Smith -- seemingly had moments of immense anguish. Did they still have "joy" even in their despair or did they just have a faith in future joy??? Should we maybe stop using the word "joy" in gospel discussions and instead find words that better describe the satisfaction the gospel might bring?

This might explain the lack of visible movement in my life.

So, President Nelson's talk this morning: If I have faith the size of a mustard seed, I can move mountains. So, if I have the faith of a sub-atomic particle - say a lepton - what can I do?