Old Tex

Evidently you are responding to something by your statement above. Can you give us some indication to what it is? A statement like that out of the blue does not give one much of a clue to what you are talking about.

Yes, you are right. The gate is baptism. By passing through it one is on the way to eternal life, if they continue to stay in the narrow way. I think that anytime Christ spoke of "life" in the hereafter, He was speaking of eternal life. That was the purpose for His coming, to show the way to Eternal Life.

Justice, You have indeed gone to the core of the matter. Eternal Life means simply to be able to perpetuate "life" eternally. To have children and to instruct them the same as all the inhabitants of this earth were instructed before we came to this fallen earth and took on a body made of the same elements. This true glorious part of the gospel of Jesus Christ is missing to many. We are indeed the offspring of Heavenly Parents and it is possible that we can become Heavenly Parents ourselves sometime in the distant future, if we remain faithful. The scripture states that "Adam fell that men may be, and men are, that they may have joy." That was the plan of the Father, and if we are one with Christ and the Father, it is our plan too. To provide a way for future men and women, yet unborn. Eternal marriage in the Temple is only the first wobbly step in a direction that will last for eons. It is not about being sealed to one's wife for eternity. Rather, it is about an eternal union where procreation continues into the eternities. Yes, comparatively "few" will make it. Christ Himself said that. "Strait is the way and narrow is the path that leads to Eternal Life". Eternal Life....so few people understand what really means.

I see that I'm coming to this thread a little late, but I have a question. Some said here that Dutcher "left the church". Can someone elaborate on that? Did he just stop attending meetings". Did he ask for his name to be removed from the rolls of the church? To what degree did he "leave the church"? Old Tex

I marvel at how far some folks go in taking a verse out of context in an effort to obscure one of the most beautiful teachings to come out of the bible. And in this case it is compounded because it's an old "standard" anti-mormon charge rather than being original with the one who posted it. Old Tex

Maybe he/she will get a new face for Christmas.

Do you expect to have a nice Christmas, ceeboo? I hope so.

Commerific, I think I have asked all the questions that I care to anyway. This fellow is deceiving no one but himself. He knows that he has no Priesthood. Anyone who is excommunicated receives a letter after such action informing them that Temple blessings, ordinations, and baptism are no longer of any effect. As a ward clerk for many years, I prepared and mailed these letters under the direction of the Bishop, so I know what he was informed of. Old Tex

Sorry, I was only asking a question about something you wrote on your web site, that is, "Heavenly Mother = Holy Ghost". You stated that you had been excommunicated and I wondered if your statement had anything to do with it. That seemed to me to be a question about a difference in doctrine, but I will refrain from any more questions if you prefer. Old Tex

Let's try a doctrinal difference.....In one of your posts I think I read where you implied that you teach (or believe) that the Holy Ghost and Heavenly Mother are the same individual. A few years ago a sister in the Church who was heavily influenced by the Women's Lib Movement, which was popular at the time, began to teach this false doctrine. After receiving council for several months to cease the teaching, she continued on and was eventially excommunicated. I wonder if you are familiar with the incident, and I also wonder if this might have be a factor in your excommunication. Old Tex

Another couple of questions, if you don't mind.... Were you ever baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and since had your membership removed from the rolls of said Church, by excommunication, at your own request, or any other means? About Thomas Monson.......Do you consider him a prophet, seer, and revelator who holds the "keys" to the Priesthood in our day? Thanks, Old Tex

I'm fairly new here and evidently don't have "signatures" turned on so I was not seeing your signature. I did click on your name above and read the information you have put about yourself being in a church with one member. This helps me understand where you are coming from.

Community of Christ?........ Or part of the remainder of the RLDS that did not make the change with the CoC? Or..... you could just say the correct group and we would stop guessing.

Hmmm! Now that makes me curious.

Krist, A question. Are you FLDS? Just going by your avatar and a website you made reference to. Old Tex

I will agree with you Verdana, and add that this also applies to those in the spirit world as well as to those living on the earth. Sometimes we tend to overlook those in the spirit world unless we are actively doing Temple work for them.

Been there, done that. I don't go there any more, but at the same time I still hope that I said something to someone in the past that sparked their interest later in their life.

Perhaps. I have also heard it expressed that these little ones may also be speaking from things partly remembered. This being because they may not have been in this fallen world long enough to have been "contaminated" to the point of having their memory of their Heavenly Parents completely lost yet.

I think plural marriage served it's purpose in the time and circumstances in which it was practiced. It was a calling practiced by a small number of men in the Church to "raise up righteous seed unto the Lord", and it certainly accomplished that, even down to today. The Lord took the Church to the mountains so it could have time to grow and strengthen in number and righteousness. Now the rock that Daniel saw cut out of the mountain without hands has began to roll forth to fill the earth as it was foretold. I see no need for the practice to return in our lifetime.

Speaking of the three glories, I remember that James E. Talmage stated that Christ only taught about the highest level of the Celestial Kingdom. As I have read the scriptures since then with that in mind, I have found it to be true.

I have to say it, Elrod. You don't want a second wife, you want a live-in person who will work for meals. Meals that she will cook, no doubt. Good luck on your house.

My wife and I have been LDS for over forty years. We are converts. She wears jeans six days a week, but on Sunday she wears a dress. She may wear jeans in the church on week days outside of the sanctuary of the chapel itself, but she will not go in the chapel unless she is in what she considers proper attire. She says it's a simple matter of respect.

I agree with what you state above Aesa. Do you see some case or cases of diminishment between the bible and the Book of Mormon? If so, we can discuss them. One must also keep in mind that along with proper translation, perception and interpretation often interferes with the agreement between the two that you stipulate. This is certainly evident with the bible alone. It seems that everyone and his brother has their own perception and interpretation of what the bible "says". Which of these interpretations do you wish to compare with the Book of Mormon? That would be a good starting place. Old Tex

My understanding is: 1. Those who kept their first estate qualified to be born into their second estate, that is, our spirit was born into a body of physical element into this fallen mortal world. 2. Depending on the choices we make in this fallen world, it is possible to obtain various degrees of glory in our "third estate". We will all receive a resurrected body which is able to "abide" (withstand) the degree of glory for which one qualifies. 3. Some who were born into this fallen world will choose a wicked path which will lead them to become "sons of Perdition" and they will receive no glory at all, but will reside with Satan and the other unembodied spirits in "outer darkness", although they will be resurrected individuals. Because they have resurrected bodies, they will have power over Satan and the others there who did not keep their "first estate". In an odd way, I guess one can say that even they were "rewarded".

Some things to consider........... 1. We meet in a "meetinghouse" or "chapel". 2. A congregation is referred to as a "ward". 3. We meet for three hours, called "the three hour block" or just the "block meetings" when referring to all three. 4. Sometimes there are several wards (separate congregations) meeting in the same meetinghouse on the same Sunday with their three hour block of meetings offset so there is room for all on a rotating schedule. My meetinghouse has three wards meeting in it on Sundays. In most wards Sacrament Meeting is the first one of the three one hour meetings. If more than one ward is meeting where you go you will need to determine what time their Sacrament Meeting begins. 5. After Sacrament Meeting there are two more one hour meetings you should attend. One will be the "Gospel Principles" class for "investigators" to learn basic doctrine and to ask questions. Then the third hour you can go with your age group to Priesthood Meeting if one is male, or to the Relief Society meeting if you are a female over 18. 6. Then there is another possibility. There may be no meetings at all on some Sundays. This is at times like Stake Conferences when all wards may be meeting together in a different meeting house, so you will just have to show up and see what's going on that Sunday.......Good Luck. You may be able to find the meeting times of your nearest ward by going to LDS Maps and putting in the information to bring up the website of the nearest ward to you. There is more information about what to expect there too.