dowi1

i'm pretty sure this isnt what we are taught, having received new knowledge and revelations Looks like Joseph Smith and not a few others broke the rule to not "communicate with the dead." The brother of Jared, Moses and others even had the audacity to talk to someone who hadn't even been born yet, definately "dead." Does this make Joseph Smith a "diviner?" What of Wilford Woodruff and the founders of the nation in the St. George Temple. Or were they given special status, being a prophets and all? I'm fairly certain that IF something about us is eternal and existed before and exists subsequent to this temporal existence in some form or calling, for example, an angel, THEN God will continue to use these eternal essences to communicate with prophets, peasants, and others seeking light and knowledge. Those who have their Callings and Elections made are able....well this would be conjecture. Anyway, seems like we're playing a shell game on this one, taking turns hiding the bean and basking in the certainty of our own inside knowledge. I doubt any minds will be changed on this one. But it does make for some interesting...insights.

hi :) How do you know that their spirit is there to hear you and comfort you?? The only spiritual comforter I know of is the Holy Ghost, who bears wittness of Jesus. If you indeed are "talking" to dead people and under the assumption that they hear you and comfort you, then you are speaking/communicating with the dead. which is a big no no. period. in times of hardship etc. we seek the lord. our protection strength guidence , Comfort etc etc come from him. Looks like Joseph Smith and not a few others broke the rule to not "communicate with the dead." The brother of Jared, Moses and others even had the audacity to talk to someone who hadn't even been born yet, definately "dead."

There was this boy who really wanted a car. He had been taught that if he prayed hard enough that he would get whatever he needed or wanted. So he prays really hard for a few minutes and goes out to the driveway. No new car. So he goes back and prays for 1/2 hour, asking only for a new car. He goes out to the driveway and still no car. He starts thinking. Finally, he goes down into the study and gets the statue of the Madonna. He sneaks quietly up into his room with the statue, some newspaper and some duct tape. He wraps the statue in the newspaper then covers it with yards of tape. He stashes his package in the farthest corner of his sock drawer and closes it. Then he goes to his bedside and gets down on his kness and says,"God, if you ever want to see your wife again..."

It all begs the question, at least from my perspective: Are Christians christian? The doctrinal debates will continue ad nauseam. We can profess to believe any and every thing, because we want to...belong? But, in truth, it's our actions and our intentions that define who we are and what we "believe." The addition of ordinances and priesthood authority by Joseph Smith is the major distinction between Mormons and the rest of protestantism. And even that authority, or the power pertaining to that authority, is based on actions and intentions (D&C 121).

Kind of a newbie here. Anyway, the believers need not fear the unbelievers and the questioners. In fact, it's the openess and honesty, intellectual and spiritual, that will strenghthen and deepen everyone's religious moorings. It's when we act like we're hiding something, particularly when we're asked well-thought-out, well-grounded questions, that we come off as being cultish. Maybe we are a cult. If we are, I would hope we were an enlightened one and that we can open our history and our tenets to the light of day. Fear that exposure will lead to misunderstanding and criticism is plain weird, both intellectually and spiritually. Do we choose to work in the light or in darkness? It is easy to criticize any organization, particularly an established religion. After all, the humans involved are...human, and mistakes are being made at many levels. But the fear of criticism and public scrutiny is not making our youth or adults any stronger. If anything, hunkering down and criticizing our critics and their motives, rather than addressing the issues, only strenghthens their position...at least for the thoughtful people who follow the media and discussions. It would be nice to have forums for the thoughtful, spiritually and non-spiritually inclined. I hope this is a safe and honest place where questioning and even criticism, veiled or overt, will be allowed and responded to without the tribal us-vs.-them mentality.