Martain

It might have if he had stuck to it =). Fortunately I was making effort to find a job and did find one. It did help encourage me though.

The problem I see with that story is this... how does she know whether that spirit was speaking the truth? Did she test the spirit? Could it not just have easily and a lot more plausibly been an evil adversarial spirit seeking to deceive her? Considering we're taught that when men die they all go to the Spirit World, I can definitely see it as part of Satan's plan to try and convince people that it works contrary to the way portrayed so as to distill a 'sympathy' with such 'lost' souls so as to try and lead people to 'help them'. After all, if due to your lifestyle here, you are judged as needing to be in spirit prison, do you think it either orderly or logical that they could simply decide to stay? I expect that had she commanded the spirit in the name of Christ to identify their master they would have declared Satan thus dispelling the matter.

There is no pit too deep, no distance too far, no cave too dark, but that the Lord can still reach down and lift your son up into the light of his love and forgiveness. He simply hasn't received enough light to have passed the point of no return and at this rate he never will. So yes, there is always hope. Ultimately you know that what ever it takes to bring him back, so long as he eventually comes to a knowledge of the truth and finds the Lord's forgiveness through repentance, it will be worth it. Sometimes my prayers are towards that effect. Since sometimes when a man is compelled to be humble he will repent, sometimes I pray that the Lord will humble some of my loved ones if there be no better way. Know that by your faithfulness you are helping hold on to him. Yes it is worse for him to fall having receive his endowments and having made those covenants for God will not be mocked but I feel that the blessings that come from having covenant keeping parents will be great for his aid. I sincerely feel that they were for me at least =). Ultimately we're all hoping that individuals like your son will eventually desire to repent. When that comes a solid understanding as to why repentance is needed and how it works will be needed. Such information can be found in many places but I found it in the book "How Great Shall Be Your Joy" by Steven A. Cramer. I recommend it to you in hopes that someday it will prove useful. Have hope and do all you can to live worthy of your covenants and short of your son willfully and intentionally rebelling against God, I feel he will find his way back one day.

Personally I also hope and think that a day will come when you can turn over reading access of your entire my journal to other users or descendants. What did grandfather think about such and such particular doctrine? It can also be used as a place to write journals which is useful too.

Absolutely agreed! You don't see those who practice it today offering marriage to crippled, maimed, disfigured, handicapped or visually less blessed women whose chances of being married in this life are less than others now do you?

If I were in your shoes I'd tell her how I feel and that I was going on a mission. I'd tell her that if she was still single when I returned that I intended to follow up on my feelings and court her with an intent to marry. I'd also tell her that should she find an individual and marry him while I was away, so long as she knew it was what the Lord wanted her to do, then I would be happy for her even if she wouldn't become mine. Basically, if I really love her, isn't her happiness my ultimate concern? Regardless as to whether or not I'm the man she's with, if she found someone she's happy with whom the Lord approved of, then I too would be happy safe in the knowledge that the Lord would see my sacrifice and reward me accordingly.

When I read the question I thought of the temple ordinances. We do not simply let anyone into the temple to take out their endowments. We know that the Lord takes these covenants very seriously and those who later break them suffer very serious consequences. God will not be mocked. The same could be said of Polygamy. It would not do to endorse that anyone who wanted to practice this principal should. We know that the Lord took such covenants very seriously and those who later abused such relationships would suffer very serious consequences. God will not be mocked. Being a divine principal, when commanded by the Lord, if done right and not abused, then polygamy is good, acceptable and approved by the Lord. Being a divine ordinance, when given permission by a Stake President, if done for the right reasons, in the right spirit and then kept and not broken, then the temple ordinances and covenants are good, acceptable and approved by the Lord. Personally though? I'm glad that the Lord is no longer asking righteous priesthood holders to live this principal. Very glad. That being said, does anyone else have the feeling or impression that there will be more women who ultimately receive a celestial glory than there will be men? If true, wouldn't this very easily explain why the Lord considers polygamy an eternal principal? Isn't Isaiah prophesying of a day to come? If it was his day why would he say 'in that day'? I recognize that not all will agree with my understanding or interpretation of the above scripture and I hope everyone will recognize that this IS simply my understanding and interpretation of the above scriptures and isn't supposed to be taken as the doctrinal view point of the LDS church but to me I see it as something that is still to come. While in the day that this was written a woman's status was indeed tied to her ability to marry and have children, I wonder about it's possible application during the millennium. If you lived in a society where it was understood that one of the primary goals of this life was to get married and have children yet you being of marriageable age continued to remain single, would you not feel 'reproach' when over years and years well meaning friends and loved ones keep asking why you haven't gotten married and started a family yet? Would you not feel 'reproach' if in spite of the considerable amount of positive peer pressure that will be found there you remain single? If the Lord does require worthy priesthood holders to live the law of plural marriage in the future, which is why I sincerely hope to be married before such a time should it come, I expect that some women will find it easier to find a spouse than others. Is it difficult to think that sisters sought out for marriage might use such a principal as a way to help their beloved sisters obtain this blessing too? I can easily envision in this scripture a group of women banding together in the millennium who basically say that should any one of them win a man's heart, before she'll let him marry her, he'll have to agree to marry her beloved sisters as well. Now there's a situation where a man may get far more than he bargained for...

Although I couldn't give you a specific source, in my readings of Joseph Smith's writings, either in the book compiled by Joseph Fielding Smith or in the church history, Joseph does indicate that he was planning to lead the saints to the west. Basically, that is where he was going when he was leaving the town before his friends called him a coward for not going and facing the mob. Paraphrasing he responded that if his life didn't have any value to his friends then it didn't have any value to him and he turned around towards martyrdom. The original revelation of going West was given to Joseph who communicated it to Brigham if not in full before his death then in full immediately after his death.

You could always check out the card benefits associated with what ever level of visa or mastercard you carry. Some have purchase protection and others will extend your guarantee by either a year if there isn't any or doubling what ever guarantee there originally was. Might be useful~

I wish I'd found this thread while it was still beginning. Though I post now I expect I will not get nearly as much feedback now as I would have then. I thought to perhaps pull specific quotes from the book "The Great and Abominable Church of the Devil" by H. Verlan Andersen but as a large portion of the book deals upon this topic, and the book is in PDF format... I'm not going to do so. Backroads, any LDS who wants to be convinced as to the correctness of your husbands line of thinking need read nothing further than this book. Backroads, if your husband wants prophetic and scriptural support for his line of thinking in order to validate his current view, he need look no further than this book. Even better, anyone can read this book for free by going here. Although I didn't take everything I wanted to share, I did write some of it up which I'll post below. Heck, if I had the money I'd pay people to read this book.

As I sat reading all that was written here, I wondered what if anything I could offer you Commander. You're struggling with you're faith but I see a desire within you for your faith to be validated. You WANT it to be true. What ever and where ever the truth is you WANT to know it. Or so it seems to me. Good. Perhaps you might derive something useful from my conversion story. If so click on my name and read it. If you do I hope it will help. It's possible to live off of borrowed light for a very long time and suddenly find yourself at a point where you realize it's borrowed light and you now need your own light. This may be your case. It's possible to have light but then commit acts which cause the light you had obtained to leave you and you suddenly find yourself at a point where you question whether or not you ever owned such light. This may be your case. In the case of the first, the advice is to apply the test of Alma and Moroni. In the case of the second, it is to repent and apply the test of Alma and Moroni. Regardless of which is your case I wish you would read the book "How Great Shall Be Your Joy" by Steven A. Cramer. The truth is that living the Gospel of Jesus Christ does in deed bring happiness, joy and peace. I know this to be true. Not merely believe, but know. So the question then becomes what you are not doing that you should be doing or what you are doing that you shouldn't be doing. If you want to know one way or the other, then you have to follow the prescribed steps to find out. You can't know a book without reading it and you can't know if the gospel will give you happiness if you don't fully live it. If you're not fully living it, then you'll never justly be able to claim that living it doesn't bring such happiness, only that you didn't do all the work to find out if it does. If you haven't seen your bishop perhaps you might schedule a visit. Perhaps he will have some guidance for you but if not at least you'll have his prayers and surely that wouldn't hurt. Commander, I feel for you brother. I've felt what you've felt and wish you to feel what I've since then come to know. I've prayed for you and I offer you my aid. If there is anything I can do you help, let me know and if it is within my power to do so I will.

agreed.

It also depends on what part of their figure you're 'admiring'. If it is their face and hair then I feel you're pretty safe. Yet Japanese culture, especially manga/anime are notorious for portraying immodest girls, very short skirts being one example. There is also a difference between pictures of Japanese Girls and Japanese Women. If the pictures you're admiring is of those who are actual girls as in underage, then yes I think that's a problem too. Those who are LDS have been given specific guidelines as to what is modest and what is not. Are the pictures of individuals who would pass the guidelines set forth in the 'For the Strength of Youth' pamphlet? If they are not, then no it is not good that you're looking them up and pointedly admiring them. A single glance in passing of such a gal as you pass them by in the street is one thing. Turning to look again and again so long as they're in line of sight or pointedly looking at, admiring and studying their features in private? Something completely difference. The guidance then would be... stop. Here's a test... would you feel comfortable if your bishop was sitting next to you viewing those pictures of those girls? If you wouldn't be comfortable with your bishop, I doubt you'd be comfortable if it were the Lord either. If you wouldn't be comfortable with the Lord... should you be viewing those pictures? Regardless as to whether or not what you're doing is sinful, know that your current actions do provide a door for the adversary to tempt you that otherwise would not be available to him.

Sorry but I don't have the time to provide scripture references on this one~ Resurrection of individuals to a Celestial Glory The first so resurrected of those who have lived on this world was Jesus Christ. Although resurrections to this degree will continue until the end of the Millennium, there are a couple of known moments in history where such resurrections occurred or will occur in mass. The first of such occurrences took place immediately after Christ's resurrection and was comprised of those who, having died before Christ, were worthy of a Celestial Glory at that time. The second of such occurrences will take place in tandem with the Second Coming of Jesus Christ and will be comprised of those who, having died after Christ, are worthy of a Celestial Glory at that time. While to our knowledge the majority of those who died after Christ have not been resurrected, we likewise know that some have been. An example of this would be Moroni who we know to be a resurrected being. We also know that those being raised to a Terrestrial Glory will likewise begin their resurrections during and throughout the Millennium. We do know that if we do not make our calling and elections sure here and now, some by actions in this life will deprive themselves of the ability to obtain a celestial kingdom regardless of their works or repentance in the Spirit World. For some this is not the case. Some, though worthy of a Terrestrial resurrection at that time of the millennium, still have the opportunity to live the Gospel in the Spirit World and ultimately prove worthy for a Celestial Glory. To my knowledge, after all those who are worthy of a Celestial or Terrestrial Glory have been resurrected, the end of the Millennium being the cutoff date, those worthy of a Telestial Glory will be resurrected. It is only after all individuals worthy of a Telestial Glory are resurrected that finally those sons and daughters of Adam who are worthy of no kingdom of glory will be resurrected and cast into outer darkness. After rereading your question I realized that perhaps I didn't fully answer your question. My understanding is that all, save little children, must pass through the waters of baptism in order to enter the kingdom of God. Whether living or dead, this requirement, in addition to all the other required ordinances, remains the same. Do we suppose that a man could be resurrected to a celestial glory having never passed through these waters? Do we suppose that a man could be resurrected to any degree of glory having never received these ordinances? Currently we do the work for the dead without knowledge as to whether or not that individual is worthy of these things or even willing to accept them. I read that in the millennium it will be different with the work only being done for those who are worthy and accept it. We do this work so that though in the spirit, they may be judged according to the deeds of the flesh. We do it so that they may progress. There will be those in the spirit world who upon the return of Christ are ultimately, for what ever reason, unable to receive a celestial resurrection who, given enough time, will become so worthy and during the millennium will be so resurrected.

From Lecture 4 of the Lectures on Faith by Joseph Smith I quote the following excerpts in regards to the attributes of God: D&C 93 24 And truth is knowledge of things as they are, and as they were, and as they are to come; 26 The Spirit of truth is of God. I am the Spirit of truth, and John bore record of me, saying: He received a fulness of truth, yea, even of all truth; Jesus Christ received a fullness of truth until he has all truth. Truth is knowledge of things as they are were and will be. Therefore, like our Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ has all knowledge of things as they will be.

My understanding is this: God is a God of Justice. Would it be just for a Bishop to go up to one of the individuals in his ward and tell them, "I've received revelation that a few years from now you'll commit adultery. Tomorrow we will be holding a church disciplinary court to determine your punishment." How could that be just? The man has committed no offense! Would it be just for a cop to come up to you and say, "I've received revelation that tomorrow you'll be driving 30 miles over the speed limit on this stretch of highway. I'm suspending your license, impounding your car and you're also spending a night in jail." How could that be just? The man has committed no offense! To top it off, in the second case, the punishment effectively prevents the individual from committing the crime in the first place! How could it be justice to punish someone for something they eventually never do? It is the same with God. God gave all of his children, Lucifer included, the gift of agency. Until Lucifer sinned and rebelled he was guilty of no offence by which Justice could hold claim. In fact, we know that he was accomplishing much good instead. As far as I can tell, prior to his fall, Lucifer was a very righteous and stalwart agent in the service of his father. How can I say this? Well in the scriptures we know that prior to Lucifer's fall he was considered a son of the morning and was in authority in the presence of God. Do you really think that anyone would be considered a son of the morning or in authority in the presence of God if he was not worthy of such? So yes through his foreknowledge God knew that Lucifer would one day rebel. Yet to punish Lucifer in advance would prevent him from accomplishing all the good he would do before his rebellion. It would also mean destroying Lucifer's gift of Agency which is something God would not do. Which is something God couldn't do and still remain God. If you had the foreknowledge of God, do you think it would be just to kill innocent babes based on the knowledge that they would grow up and someday murder someone else? Of what crime are they guilty of? They have committed none! So as to your question as to why God allowed Lucifer to become who he did the answer is this. God is a God of supreme Justice and he had given all of his children the gift of Agency. To do other than he did would be to destroy justice and deprive one of his children of Agency. Think of Cain. God surely knew that Cain would become a son of perdition of which it is said it would have been better that they had never been born. God knew what Cain would do. Yet to forbid him to come would be to destroy Cain's Agency. If God had done that Cain would have lost his freedom. He would have lost his opportunity to choose for himself. He would have been denied his Agency. Remember, the denial of Agency or the plan to deny others of Agency was Lucifer's plan. If God were to do the same, he would cease to be God. As to the temple, I can testify to you that the doctrine that evil spirits can not enter into there is not an official doctrine of the Latter-day Saint Church. While others may infer or derive an interpretation from the scriptures of such a doctrine, no where is such a doctrine to be plainly found. Please do not accept such a doctrine as truth unless the Holy Ghost has testified that it is true to you via a burning in your bosom. Do you not think that were it true, a Latter-day Prophet would have issued such a promise? Have not our prophets plead with us to attend the temple? If they could the promise that by coming we would be free from the adversary's power while there do you think they would not have given it? Wouldn't such a promise encourage many who do not come often to attend more frequently? The promise is that all who enter will leave a better person. There is no promise that while there we will be free from opposition. Just because one receives revelation in the temple does not certify that such revelation is from God. If such revelation is counter to the teachings of the Gospel found in the scriptures, no matter how credible, it is not from God.

I'd definitely want to add a section regarding marriage if it was up to me. Perhaps "You and Your Marriage" by Apostle Hugh B. Brown? What about a section on the LDS views towards politics, proper government and the war against communism/socialism? There's a large list on LDS Freedom Portal: Your Gateway To LDS Freedom Resources... of publications we've been recommended to ready by Church leaders. Personally I would put in all of H. Verlan Andersen's books. I'd have become politically active years ago if I'd understood what he taught me from the scriptures that I know now from reading his books. A section to help prepare an individual for the temple would also be nice. Perhaps "The Holy Temple" by Boyd K. Paker and "The House of the Lord" by James E. Talmage "Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith" Complied by Joseph Fielding Smith would be a wonderful addition to any library. There's quite a few volumes released that are a compiled reference of different president speeches and teachings like "The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson" by Ezra Taft Benson. I expect there's one for each of our more recent Latter-day Prophets. Doctrines of Salvation I-III by Joseph Fielding Smith is useful and so are the books by Talmage like the "Articles of Faith". A few books regarding the atonement and how to apply it in our lives would be valuable as well. Personally I'd put "How Great Shall Be Your Joy" by Steven A. Cramer and "Miracle of Forgiveness" by Spencer W. Kimball A few thoughts =)

I hope this answers your question~

Definitely keep praying for the aid you need for the Lord has the power to grant your request so long as your faith is sufficient and it is inline with his plan for you. One option is to try Personal Loans and Online Investing - Peer to Peer Lending - Prosper. If nothing else, trying that route will be 'work' that the Lord can use towards blessing you with the desire of your prayer.

This reminds me of what I once heard taught regarding the differences between men and woman. For example eyesight: As a general rule, women's sight nerve receptors are spread in a wider pattern than men which gives them great peripheral vision. As a general rule, men's sight nerve receptors are concentrated in a central cone which gives them great tunnel vision. Compared to women, men's peripheral vision isn't so hot... So the story I heard goes like this. Man and woman walking down the street. Woman sees another woman via peripheral vision. After a while the man turns his head and looks at the other woman. Woman is upset. She thinks he not only was looking at the other woman all along but that he then, in an even greater offence, he turned his head for a direct glance and that the truth was that while he sensed something in his peripheral vision, it wasn't until he actually turned his head that he saw the other woman, realized it wasn't something he should be checking out, and turned his head back away. Total time woman has seen other woman: 8 seconds Total time man has seen other woman: 1 second Or so the story goes. I shared this at work and received much derision from my female co-workers over the subject =)

Yes, as you say, that's what I meant.

Having come from a family where both my parents and grandparents (one side) divorced, I'm dead set determined that divorce will not be an option for me. My covenant to her will be an eternal one and I'm determined that hell or high water I'll keep that covenant. While there are valid reasons for divorce, hopefully who ever I find will feel the same way I do about marriage as that will definitely help. Basically my promise to whom ever I marry will be that if there is trouble I'll do anything to make it right and see any amount of therapists and councilors to help us through it. I'll promise that divorce will never be an option unless because of sin the Lord commands me to do so. That being said, I don't expect to enter the covenant of marriage without first having received confirmation from the Lord that he approves of us getting married. Even this can sometimes be insufficient though. Both my father and mother received such a confirmation before getting married. Yet after my mother filed for separation, my father says the spirit clearly told him that to pursue a divorce as it would ultimately become such in the future and this way both parties would be spared much pain and agony. All I can do is ensure that there is nothing I do or do not do which would prompt or cause such an event to happen and trust the Lord that he will take care of the rest. As to your original question I would expect that one of your answers is 'revelation'. When things get tough and painful, those who have received such a confirmation prior to marriage will have a greater store of enduring strength in my opinion than those who do not. There is also another way that 'revelation' is your answer. In the midst of trials and painful situations, those who rely on the Spirit and have access to divine revelation can receive enduring power then as well. If you were having difficulty in your marriage through prayer and you asked if you should divorce and his guidance was to endure it, wouldn't that make a huge difference?

Please don't be sorry Hala, For a long time I felt no desire to even look into politics. My views were that both parties were entirely corrupt and that no matter who I voted for it wouldn't really matter so I might as well not vote as all (apathy). In retrospect I suspect that this was just another one of Satan's lies, a lie mixed with partial truth. While I have no suggestions as to where to go regarding candidates and issues, I do have something very valuable to me none the less that I desire to share with you. The author is H. Verlan Anderson and he is a very popular LDS Author. He wrote multiple books on the topic of moral government. I can honestly say that I can promise you that if you read it you will be glad of it. For myself, I not only was glad but rejoiced and felt to thank the Lord to have found them. Yes they're that good. I even expect that should Hoosier take my challenge to read them he would come back and tell me that quite a few of his views have changed. What power right? =P A downloadable collection of his works can be found here for free by permission from the copyright holder who is currently his son. Sincerely, Martain

I remember once being told that I was to be out of the house by 9AM and couldn't return until dinner at 7PM every day except Sunday until I was re-employed once.

Commonsensemedia has the following to say about the show Trudors Why is someone who designates themselves as a Latter-day saint watching something so clearly contrary to what we know to be acceptable entertainment?