Colirio

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Posts posted by Colirio

  1. 3 hours ago, The Folk Prophet said:

    Yeah, I still think it's a problem to pit living prophets and apostles against scripture.


    I’m agreeing with you when posting the following statement:
     

    President Ezra Taft Benson - 

    “The most important prophet, so far as we are concerned, is the one who is living in our day and age. This is the prophet who has today’s instructions from God to us. God’s revelation to Adam did not instruct Noah how to build the ark. Every generation has need of the ancient scripture, plus the current scripture from the living prophet. Therefore, the most crucial reading and pondering that you should do is of the latest inspired words from the Lord’s mouthpiece. That is why it is essential that you have access to and carefully read his words. …

    Yes, we thank thee, O God, for a prophet to guide us in these latter days [see Hymns, no. 19]

    Beware of those who would set up the dead prophets against the living prophets, for the living prophets always take precedence.“


    It seems clear that both are needed, both are relevant, and scripture is ongoing. 
     

    I believe what @askandanswer was trying to say is what President Benson stated about the living prophet taking precedence. If I misunderstand, though, feel free to correct me. 

  2. On 3/29/2023 at 7:10 PM, Vort said:

    Serious question: Can someone explain to me the attraction of professional wrestling? Because I just don't get it.


    They are modern Shakespeare plays. 
     

    Now, before you dismiss what I’m saying, think about it. 
     

    They are often humorous. 
     

    They offer commentary into the modern state of our society and its woes. 
     

    They present dilemmas in which friendly allegiances are tested, fortified, and often betrayed. 
     

    You generally see the bad guys cheat to win and then brag about their victory. The good guys, on the other hand, will get beaten down again and again, only to try and rise above the impossible odds in which they’ve been placed. 

     

    There are often situations which ask questions concerning what the right thing to do would be in the given circumstances. 
     

    While it certainly wouldn’t be considered the highest form of art, there is an immense amount of talent and training that goes into being able to adjust the prewritten storylines on the fly in front of live audiences, often due to trying to work safely and avoid injuries, all while staying ‘in character.’ 

     

  3. On 4/12/2022 at 11:39 AM, Traveler said:

    why anyone would support the Democratic party????


    To be fair, my grandparents have voted strictly Democrat for 30 years. Very devout Christians, they wanted what was best people. 
     

    Just two, warm and friendly people who passed away in the early 1990’s. 

  4. On 3/22/2022 at 10:02 AM, Fether said:

    Was Mosiah granting Alma the authority to establish a church and granting him power to ordain akin to us receiving callings and stewardship from our leaders?


    The word “authority” doesn’t appear in this verse.
     

    This verse seems to reference the king’s governance over the people, the permission (license) given to Alma to establish a church of God and permission (license) to ordain people to ecclesiastical positions. The word “power” would be a synonym for “permission” as used in this context.*** 
     

    In a monarchy, the king has supreme governing power over all such things that happen among the people. You can’t start a church unless the king approves it. We can also look to the Lamanite missions served by the sons of Mosiah and how only after the kings’ conversions was the spread of the gospel really allowed. 
     

    In our modern usage, Alma obtained a license from the government to start a church. He then ordained licensed ministers. 


    *** Even if someone were inclined to believe the word “power” to reference priesthood, the word authority does not appear here. Clearly, Alma already had priesthood authority before they ever joined the Nephites under Mosiah: 

     

    Mosiah 23:16 And now, Alma was their high priest, he being the founder of their church.

    17 And it came to pass that none received authority to preach or to teach except it were by him from God. Therefore he consecrated all their priests and all their teachers; and none were consecrated except they were just men.

     

    This along with the baptisms he performed shows Alma already had priesthood authority. This leads to the conclusion that the “power” given to Alma by Mosiah was not referencing a transferral of priesthood authority, but rather a governing licensure (permission). 
     

    On 3/22/2022 at 10:02 AM, Fether said:

    Was Alma or Mosiah the head of the church? 

    Christ was the head of the church. Alma established the church as evidenced by the next chapter. 
     

    Mosiah 26:17 And blessed art thou because thou hast established a church among this people; and they shall be established, and they shall be my people. 

     

    On 3/22/2022 at 10:02 AM, Fether said:

    If Alma was head of the church, How is it that Mosiah granted the authority to Alma, yet he was not the head?

    Mosiah was the king. He granted power (permission, license) to Alma to establish a church. 
     

    On 3/22/2022 at 10:02 AM, Fether said:

    If Mosiah was the head of the church, 

    He wasn’t. 
     

    On 3/22/2022 at 10:02 AM, Fether said:

    Was Mosiah transferring the role of head of the church to Alma because he couldn’t do everything?

    There doesn’t seem to be an established church at that time before Alma founded one. The Nephites followed Christ and lived according to the law of Moses, but having religious people does not necessarily organize them into a church. 
     

    In our latter-day church, we are used to things being organized a particular way. It hasn’t always been that way throughout the history of the world. 

  5. As a teenager, we did this quite a bit. 
     

    We would even let the kids hold on and then let go so that they could slingshot to the top and climb back down the tree. (I didn’t say that we were intelligent teenagers…) 
     

    I will warn you that they do snap, crack, and uproot at times depending on the health of the tree and condition of the soil. 
     

    I would say that if you are in a physically fit state to be able to climb and then drop the distance to land on the ground unharmed, then you might have a lot of fun and build some healthy hand callouses at the same time. But you need to be wise, sufficiently fit, and cautiously observant. 
     

  6. 10 hours ago, Fether said:

     Is this what fatherhood is all about retightening screws for eternity?


    Spiritually speaking, I would say so. 
     

    Sounds to me like there is a future sacrament meeting parable you are being blessed with here… 

     

    Temporally speaking, @Grunt summed up the solutions to the issues, at least for a time and less frequently. 
     

    But spiritually speaking, are there daily, weekly, monthly, and annual “screws” that a father should retighten for/with his children? Do those become burdensome or flat out annoying at times? Is there spiritual locktite that can be applied? (Just spitballing here!) 

     

  7. 8 minutes ago, The Folk Prophet said:

    This is an interesting thing to think about regarding responsibility? Where does it lie? I mean wherein are we, the "teachers" culpable?


    D&C 42:13 And they shall observe the covenants and church articles to do them, and these shall be their teachings, as they shall be directed by the Spirit.


    14 And the Spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith; and if ye receive not the Spirit ye shall not teach.

     

     

    D&C 52:17 Verily I say unto you, he that is ordained of me and sent forth to preach the word of truth by the Comforter, in the Spirit of truth, doth he preach it by the Spirit of truth or some other way?


    18 And if it be by some other way it is not of God.


    19 And again, he that receiveth the word of truth, doth he receive it by the Spirit of truth or some other way?


    20 If it be some other way it is not of God.


    21 Therefore, why is it that ye cannot understand and know, that he that receiveth the word by the Spirit of truth receiveth it as it is preached by the Spirit of truth?


    22 Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoice together.


    23 And that which doth not edify is not of God, and is darkness.

     

  8. There was a great question and answer from Ask Gramps about the subject being discussed that, in turn, asked some important questions. Though it’s a bit lengthy, to shorten it would be an injustice. 
     

     

    Question

    Gramps,

    I have read the Book of Mormon from cover to cover in preparation to serve a mission. I finished and I feel like I prayed with a real intent to know if it was true.  Growing up in the Church I wanted an experience I could look back on to anchor me.  But I felt nothing,  I’ve read scriptures James 1:5 and Moroni 10-4,5 but I am home because of the pandemic, and struggling to go back out.   How can I really gain a testimony? I can’t go out and and bear a testimony I don’t have.

    Matthew

     

    Answer

    Matthew,

    Thank you for taking a moment to ask this question, and it is comforting for me to see a young man who wants to be genuine when declaring a truth to others. In my youth, I found myself in a similar situation as you, but in a different way. Before I go into that let’s review from scripture items that need to be considered with a question like yours (these are general questions that may or may not apply to you right now):

    1) Will God further reveal to us what we already know, but for some reason are denying?
    2) King Laman, Lamoni’s father, at first was willing to give up half a kingdom to know what Aaron knew. When the reality of what Aaron was teaching settled in King Laman was willing to give up all his sins to know. Is there anything in our lives that might be preventing a witness?
    3) Is our desire to know the truth real, or simply a reluctant obedience in doing what people have said without any real intent?
    4) Am I tying God down to a specific experience in order to have the truth revealed and to receive a testimony?
    5) How does God reveal truth? What has he already revealed to us?
    6) Have you witnessed God’s hand in your family?
    7) The Lord’s timing. Have I allowed the Lord to answer me on his timeline vs. when I think he should do it? An answer is promised, but an immediate answer is not.

    When I began serving a mission I read the following verse of scripture in Doctrine and Covenants 9:8-9 that refers to a “burning in our bosom.” This was the way God revealed truth, at least that is what was being taught, and since I had never felt this before I found myself in a similar position as you, “How do I teach the Gospel when I haven’t received a testimony”?

    I began to pray, read, and fast for a testimony. I wanted to feel this “burning in my bosom.” I never received this witness, and to this day I have not and do not know what a “burning in the bosom” feels like. What I did discover is that when I was no longer looking for a specific witness the Lord spoke to my mind and heart. I knew from the Spirit of the Lord (the Lord’s voice, mind, and will) and thus began the seed of my testimony. I discovered for me the truth of Doctrine and Covenants 8:2-3. The spirit of revelation/prophecy is when the Lord speaks to your mind and heart. The Spirit of the Lord then commanded me to build upon what I received. Later in my life I read the following words from President Joseph F. Smith which describes my testimony and knowledge of the gospel:

    “When I as a boy first started out in the ministry,” he explained, “I would frequently go out and ask the Lord to show me some marvelous thing, in order that I might receive a testimony. But the Lord withheld marvels from me, and showed me the truth, line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little and there a little, until he made me to know the truth from the crown of my head to the soles of my feet, and until doubt and fear had been absolutely purged from me. He did not have to send an angel from the heavens to do this, nor did he have to speak with the trump of an archangel. By the whisperings of the still small voice of the Spirit of the living God, he gave to me the testimony I possess. And by this principle and power he will give to all the children of men a knowledge of the truth that will stay with them, and it will make them to know the truth, as God knows it, and to do the will of the Father as Christ does it.”

    This appears to be a true path by which the Lord reveals his truth to his children. There are obviously outliers to this path also. At this time also, early in my mission, there wasn’t any sin in my life that had not been repented of. If I needed to resolve something with the bishop it was resolved. When I taught at the MTC I had the privilege of teaching a young man from my home ward who was struggling also. He was not receiving the witness he wanted to receive pertaining to staying on the mission or returning home in order to marry his girlfriend. Mind you I knew this young man. I also knew of decisions he made, which would have prevented him from serving a mission as soon as he did. He had unrepented, unresolved sins that were preventing him from receiving the witness he desired. Like King Laman, he was willing to give up half of his kingdom (meaning, he was willing to leave his home, but the other half he really didn’t want to lose — girlfriend). As such, there were sins preventing the Spirit. If we are unwilling to give up all our sins (especially when we are about to serve a mission, or are on the mission) it will be hard to receive any answer from the Lord as our mind will not be prepared to receive it.

    On my mission, I taught a lady who said the following words, “I already know Joseph Smith is not a prophet of God, but I will pray anyway.” When we asked if she prayed she said she had and that she didn’t receive an answer. When we asked how she prayed she said the following, “I prayed and asked the Lord by saying, ‘Lord, I already know Joseph Smith is not a prophet, but because the Elders have asked me I am praying to know,’ and I did not receive an answer.”  My companion and I looked at each other and were not surprised she did not receive an answer. At times, we may be reluctant although we still act, but are our actions with true intent and sincerity. Or, are our actions merely to say, “Well, I did what was asked, and still nothing.”

    Another story I really enjoy from President Joseph F. Smith is regarding his mother. When he was a young boy traveling with his mother and uncle at some point their oxen went missing. Joseph and his uncle had searched and searched and had come up empty handed. As he was returning back to his mother this is what he shares:

    “In this pitiable plight I was the first to return to our wagons, and as I approached I saw my mother kneeling down in prayer. I halted for a moment and then drew gently near enough to hear her pleading with the Lord not to suffer us to be left in this helpless condition, but to lead us to recover our lost team, that we might continue our travels in safety. When she arose from her knees I was standing nearby. The first expression I caught upon her precious face was a lovely smile, which discouraged as I was, gave me renewed hope and an assurance I had not felt before.

     

    “She cheerfully encouraged Joseph and his uncle to sit and enjoy the breakfast she had prepared and said, “I will just take a walk out and see if I can find the cattle.” Despite her brother’s protests that further searching would be fruitless, Mary set out, leaving him and Joseph F. to eat breakfast. She encountered a nearby herdsman who indicated that he had seen the lost oxen in the direction opposite to her course. Joseph F. said, “We heard plainly what he said, but mother went right on, and did not even turn her head to look at him.” She soon beckoned to Joseph F. and his uncle, who ran to the spot where she stood. There they saw the oxen fastened to a clump of willows.

     

    “President Joseph F. Smith later said, “It was one of the first practical and positive demonstrations of the efficacy of prayer I had ever witnessed. It made an indelible impression upon my mind, and has been a source of comfort, assurance and guidance to me throughout all of my life.”

    Has there been anything in your life, with your family, or with a friend, or you personally that you can draw on when you are asking the Lord for a witness? The Book of Mormon says it a little differently with the following words:

    “Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts.” (emphasis mine)  Moroni 10:3

    When you prayed, were you remembering the Lord’s love for you (his death, his sacrifice)? Were you possibly remembering any spiritual witness that the Lord (as with Joseph F. Smith and his mother) has heard and answered prayers? Were you possibly pondering the love you have for others and those who you will be serving? Were you pondering the tender mercies the Lord has shown in scripture?

    I want to thank you again Matthew for taking the time to ask this question, and the desire you have to be genuine in declaring your testimony. You want to know. May the Lord bless you with a calm heart and mind to hear his voice, his love, and his mercy for you as his son.

     

    Gramps

  9. 11 minutes ago, Traveler said:

    It is interesting that some have attempted to compare Afghanistan to Vietnam.  I do not think there is a better example of trying to compare apples to oranges. 


    I don’t believe anyone has tried to compare one war to another, only the method of withdrawing our troops and people. 
     

    Having to send 3,000 troops BACK in order to create a safe withdrawal for our folks is leaving everyone scratching their heads. Was there so little forethought put into this withdrawal? Especially considering they had to do the same thing in Iraq when he was Vice President, the optics of this are terrible… 

  10. 15 minutes ago, Godless said:

    incompetence.


    What is astonishing is that an extremely similar thing happened last time Joe Biden was in office (Vice President) during the withdrawal from Iraq and had been warned previously what would happen. 

     

    "…Beginning with President Bush and continuing through the Obama administration, the White House was set on a total troop withdrawal, for political reasons," General Jim Mattis writes. "I argued strongly that any vacuum left in our wake would be filled by Sunni terrorists and Iran."

    Mattis also recounts a meeting in Iraq with then-Vice President Joe Biden in the run-up to the U.S. withdrawal.

    "He wanted our forces out of Iraq," Mattis writes. "Whatever path led there fastest, he favored. He exuded the confidence of a man whose mind was made up, perhaps even indifferent to considering the consequences were he judging the situation incorrectly."

    After the U.S. withdrew at the end of 2011, the Islamic State, a Sunni Muslim group, seized a large part of western and northern Iraq. President Obama reluctantly sent forces back to Iraq in 2014.

    "All this was predicted — and preventable," Mattis adds.

  11. 7 hours ago, Anddenex said:

    In the beginning with Covid we know the a lot of people (if not the majority) were dying of heart attacks, cancer, diabetes, or some form of pre-existing condition. All these deaths were counted as a Covid death.


    I agree with everything you said in your whole post, but wanted to use this one statement to make a point. 
     

    To clarify my point, I am not arguing for or against vaccinations, but my point is simply that these issues are not as cut and dried or as definitive as we might believe. Again, WE are not the ones testing, doing the research in a lab, or gathering the data to report. Instead this information changes hands multiple times and then is parroted, slanted, skewed and even stifled by the time it reaches the public. 
     

    This point you made is absolutely valid. The difficulty is in HOW to state the death with absolution. I will give a personal example to illustrate. 
     

    My father’s cousin and cousin’s wife both caught COVID-19 and both went to the hospital last year. They were both in their 70’s. My father’s cousin’s wife was sent home the same day, but he was not. He passed away a few days later. He had pre-existing breathing problems. 
     

    So, how should the hospital report his death? He clearly had pre-existing breathing problems. He technically passed away from those breathing problems. But would those problems have been so exacerbated to the point of death without having caught COVID? So, the hospital called it a COVID related death. (Right or wrong, this is what they did.) 
     

    So, hypothetically, how would the news media cover this story? Some news agencies might report it how the hospital did and call it a COVID related death. Some might have reported that he died of breathing complications/old age. Some might have reported that half of all the people in this story (two) died of COVID. 
     

    So, which hypothetical news agency reported it correctly? Well, they all did in a way. And they reported it according to the political narrative they wanted to push. And when we, the hypothetical news consumers, watch these reports we come here to discuss and even argue about it. 
     


    So, what is my point? My point is that there is no definitive authority except God on this issue due to the nuances of thousands (millions?) of individual cases and circumstances. And this is what happens with every single issue that becomes political, from the “science” of climate change to the evils/virtues of capitalism. So, when I hear the numbers, see the graphs, and hear the explanations of these statistics being reported, I can’t help but roll my eyes at the “definitive” conclusions being reached based on third, fourth, and fifth hand information that is presented. Especially considering the amount of silencing/cancelling of information we are experiencing and how heavily it skews our perceptions. 
     

    President Nelson - “If we are to have any hope of sifting through the myriad of voices and the philosophies of men that attack truth, we must learn to receive revelation.” 

  12. 2 minutes ago, Just_A_Guy said:

    And frankly, I think we are all experienced enough to understand that a person who claims they’re “just asking questions” and then proceeds to ask a series of very loaded questions, is generally going to be seen as pushing an agenda; whether they care to admit it or not.


    Yes. The agenda is that there are unanswered questions regarding the effectiveness of the vaccine. There is a concerted effort on social media to silence any opposing discussion and the “definitive” statement NT made closely aligns with such silencing. 

     

    4 minutes ago, Just_A_Guy said:

    That being the case, I wish you had engaged with the numbers @NeuroTypical offered 


    Why would I? It was beside the point I was making. I wasn’t arguing whether or not the vaccine is effective. 
     

    My POINT is that dismissing discussion as to its effectiveness is rather silly when even logic alone raises questions about it. 
     

    It seems you are wanting me to have a debate here and wanting me to take the side of the anti-vaxxers.  No thanks…. 

  13. 7 hours ago, Just_A_Guy said:

    That said, @Colirio—you sort of lose me when you suggest that a vaccine has to be 100% effective in every single individual who receives it.


    I’m not sure where I said that. I only submitted that there are unanswered questions. 
     

    On 8/1/2021 at 2:56 PM, NeuroTypical said:

    There simply is no serious voice that can be raised against the effectiveness of the vaccine.


    This is the single statement I was referring to and why I asked the questions that I did.
     

    There are (unanswered) questions concerning it’s effectiveness. I’m not even stating that it’s not effective. I simply pointed out that logic alone raises these questions, so why can there not be any voice raised against it? 

     

    7 hours ago, Just_A_Guy said:

    The sort of conspiracy it would take to manipulate the sort of data NT has presented here and to keep it all secret would be absolutely monumental… .

     

    Counsel, I believe you are in the wrong courtroom. (Or maybe I am?) The conspiracy theorist discussion is being had with other people, not me.