Bagnon

Hi, Can someone point me to a timeline that shows how and when the doctrine of tithing evolved? For example, during the law of consecration, it seems you paid 10% on the increase after your received your portion of goods from the church. But then, after the law of consecration and united order were discontinued, Lorenzo Snow changed it to mean 10% of income from your job? Anyone know of a site that explains the different ways tithing was paid and when? Thanks

Teachings of Harold B. Lee, page 20 (an official publication of the Church) "Besides the Fall having had to do with Adam and Eve. . . all of the creation of animals, plants—all kinds of life were changed. The earth itself became subject to death. . .a change was wrought over the whole face of the creation, which up to that time had not been subject to death." By the way, I emailed [email protected] and asked them if the information found in the Teachings of the Prophets series is considered official church doctrine. Their reply was that all published information goes through a review by general authorities, and that it was.

You guys probably believe dinosaurs lived millions of years ago. Perhaps you should check out what Mary Schweitzer discovered.

I have an alternate theory, that the fall, the flood, the atonement, and all the sudden destructions that have befallen wicked nations have made the earth appear much older than it really is. Additionally, atheist scientists who want the earth to be millions of years old to allow organic evolution to have had a chance have manipulated and intentionally misinterpreted data and set correction factors to skew aging studies to give the results they want.

Doctrine and Covenants 93:33 - "The elements are eternal" The earth was organized from pre-existing elements, just like our spirits were organized from pre-existing intelligence. I can accept that the earth is old as we don't know how long before the fall it was created. But we do know from scripture that there was no death until about the last 6,000 years. I would like to see more saints stand up for this doctrine instead of being so quick to accept the scientific theory.

Nope. When God created the world it was a paradise and he called it "good". Adam introduced the fall. If the the earth was fallen before Adam, then the Atonement would not restore it back to its "paradisaical glory".

Yes there are 7 periods and each one is 1000 years. The final period will be the millennium. I don't know why "intellectual" LDS are so quick to dismiss the scriptures.

How can the Old Earth Theory and LDS doctrine be true when the Lord specifically tells Joseph Smith that the Earth will only have a temporal existence of 7,000 years? "Q. What are we to understand by the book which John saw, which was sealed on the back with seven seals? A. We are to understand that it contains the revealed will, mysteries, and the works of God; the hidden things of his economy concerning this earth during the seven thousand years of its continuance, or its temporal existence."

This is a reply to an old post, but since we just had a lesson in church today about the Fall, and the general feeling in the church is that there are conflicting commandments (multiply vs. don't partake) I wanted to share my thoughts to shed some light on the Fall (my favorite topic). The best way to know something is true, is to try and teach it with the spirit. If the spirit confirms a truth, then hold onto that confirmation. Let us begin: 1. The purpose of life is to be put to the test (Abr 3:25) If we pass the tests we progress spiritually and become more righteous and more like God. 2. In order to be tested we have to be free to choose (agency) and have choices presented to us: good vs. evil. (This is why Satan's plan could not have worked for our spiritual progression) 3. Another part of our progression involves experiencing and overcoming opposition i.e. learning. CREATION 4. Because God is perfect, he creates worlds in a perfect paradisaical state. Living in a paradise does not offer the full range of experiences of opposition needed to prove one's obedience or learn. (How many inventions do you know that came from Hawaii or other paradises?) 5. The role of Adam was to introduce the condition of mortality. He was placed at the head of creation so when he fell the whole earth would fall with him. FALL 6. In the Garden Adam was commanded to multiply and not to partake of the fruit. However, the opposition they experienced was between the tree of life, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. This is explicitly taught in 2 Nephi 2:15. The choice they had was live forever in the Garden of Eden in an innocent, child-like state and partake of the Tree of Life, or to leave the Garden and learn good and evil. (Once they made their choice, Cherubim and a flaming sword prevented them from making the other choice). 7. Because of 1 Nephi 3:7, we know that because Adam and Eve were commanded to multiply (as part of their marriage), they possessed the ability to do so, and that God would have provided a way. However because they were innocent and lacked the knowledge of how to accomplish this, they did not have any children before they made the choice to partake of the forbidden fruit. It is my belief that every scripture that talks about the fall making it possible for them to multiply is really talking about how Adam would have been left alone in the Garden if he did not stay with eve. Where we get into trouble is when we start asking, "What if?". If they never partook of the fruit would they have eventually figured it out? Perhaps. Perhaps that was the further light and knowledge. What if the fruit really did bring about the needed change to have children and what if they never partook? Then we would have gone to another planet that had the right conditions (see D&C 76:24 and Moses 1:38). It doesn't matter because we know how the events transpired and if they couldn't have children, God would not have held them accountable. Also remember that Adam and Even did not make any covenants to obey until after the Fall! 8. Why did God command them to multiply if they couldn't? * It is part of the marriage ceremony to legitimize procreation (God could not have married them once they left the Garden) * God knew that Adam would need this commandment to stick with Eve. (Also remember that God does not hold people accountable to commandments they cannot obey) 9. If it was good to eat of the forbidden fruit, why did God forbid it? * So that there would be a consequence if they chose to eat it * So that Satan (not knowing the mind of God, Moses 4:6) would tempt them to eat it, and give them opposition. So there was no contradiction until only after Eve had partaken and Adam had to choose to stay with her. 10 Every bad consequence of the Fall is freely corrected by the Atonement. (If they yield to temptation we will provide a savior!) * Physical death - everyone gets to be resurrected (good or evil) * Spiritual death - everyone gets to return to God (good or evil) to be judged according to their works, desires, etc. * Paradise Lost? - AOF 10: "We believe...that the earth will be renewed and receive its paradisiacal glory". (In the Millennium) * We get to keep everything we learn, "D&C 130:19, "And if a person gains more knowledge and intelligence in this life through his diligence and obedience than another, he will have so much the advantage in the world to come."