Colirio

I guess I would ask, if accountability has been set at 8 years of age, what are they specifically accountable for? Leading to the next question, I would ask if baptism is a necessary ordinance. To recap: So, baptism has been around since the time of Adam. We have a record of 8 years of age being the age of accountability since at least Abraham's time. Repeated during the time of the Nephites is that "young children" should not be baptized as they are not yet accountable. Baptism IS a necessary ordinance for salvation to those who have reached the age of accountability. Perhaps it is just my tendency to simplify things, but it seems rather obvious that this has been consistent among God's people since the beginning. EDIT: I went and reread the JST for Genesis 17. It is specifically referencing baptism in that chapter: JST Genesis 17:4 And God talked with him, saying, My people have gone astray from my precepts, and have not kept mine ordinances, which I gave unto their fathers; 5 And they have not observed mine anointing, and the burial, or baptism wherewith I commanded them; 6 But have turned from the commandment, and taken unto themselves the washing of children, and the blood of sprinkling; And then: 11 And I will establish a covenant of circumcision with thee, and it shall be my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee, in their generations; that thou mayest know forever that children are not accountable before me until they are eight years old.

Joseph Smith Translation of Genesis 17: 11 And I will establish a covenant of circumcision with thee, and it shall be my covenant between me and thee, and thy seed after thee, in their generations; that thou mayest know forever that children are not accountable before me until they are eight years old. Moroni Chapter 8 also speaks to the baptism of children. I tend to think that baptism at 8 years old has been the standard God established since the beginning. It seemed to be discussed and known in the two dispensations mentioned above. However, I also agree that at the time of Jesus the corruption had done away with these plain and precious parts of the gospel.

Are we, as members of Christ's church with the gift of the Holy Ghost, not entitled to receive revelations just like the prophets and apostles? Who was giving Moses meat? Who gives President Monson meat? Are the channels of revelation from that same God from which they receive instruction not open in our lives? If not, then I suggest we start drinking that milk with a little more repentance juice stirred in until the channels are fully open. This is applies to me, too btw. I should probably start taking a repentance multivitamin.....

The real difficulty is when you sit further down the pew from the person reaching out to hand you the tray. Do you: 1. Take the sacrament, then grab the tray and pass? 2. Take the tray, set it on your lap to avoid a left-handed distribution to your own right hand? If #1, what if it's an elderly sister who is barely able to stand? If #2, is the lap to right hand more appropriate than my own left hand pass to the right hand partaking? Mormon dilemmas?

I figure you already know this, but thought I'd say it anyway for others so as to avoid misunderstandings. The Sunday School president does not hold priesthood keys either. Speaking solely on the ward level, only quorum presidents hold priesthood keys.

This is just one of the latest examples: http://www.cnn.com/2016/08/11/politics/donald-trump-military-courts-election-2016/index.html

Prayerfully vote according to conscience for someone I feel would be an excellent president.

Avoiding the same strategy that failed during the last two elections might be a good start. Rallying around the lesser of two evils doesn't seem to be working. Perhaps voting FOR someone instead of AGAINST the greater evil might provide a more solid foundation to receive God's intended blessings. Or... we can just keep pretending that Trump has a remote chance of winning, thereby insuring the Clintons another stay at Taxpayer Inn.

So we agree, Even though the GOP rallied around McCain, he didn't get enough votes. Even though the GOP rallied around Romney, he didn't get enough votes. But despite both of you agreeing that the party isn't going to rally around Trump, I should vote for him? Why back a candidate who 1. I don't like and 2. has even less support than the last two losers I voted for? Third time's the charm?

And how well has this strategy worked out for the GOP in the last 2 elections? Do you really believe the Republican Party has FINALLY picked the right candidate that we will all rally behind in record numbers?

I don't want Trump or Hillary for President. Period. I will be voting for someone who I believe will make decisions based on the Constitution. I keep hearing, "You are electing Hillary by not voting for Trump." My answer is simple. YOU are electing someone who is dangerous for the country by voting for Hillary or for Trump. There are too many unforseen events that can happen during a presidential term to elect anyone who is not honest and who does not support the Constitution. As quoted by Elder Ezra Taft Benson in the April 1972 General Conference talk "Civic Standards for the Faithful Saints": “… to vote for wicked men, it would be sin,” said Hyrum Smith. (Documentary History of the Church, vol. 6, p. 323.)

That's how the hipster burned his mouth eating pizza. He ate it before it was cool...

So, you could theoretically drive it all over your property without repercussions. As as soon as you enter onto publicly maintained roads, however... I also believe there is a legal difference between real property and personal property.

Sorry for the double post, but I just wanted to state that I have not read the whole thread. I read enough to see The Folk Prophet's post about preaching the Gospel of Repentance being the key. I wholeheartedly agree. The Book of Mormon was written for our day and speaks often of secret combinations and Gadianton robbers. It also shows us several ways the Nephites dealt with them. Some of those ways worked and others led to the destruction of the people. If we hope to be successful in our endeavors against them, our guidebook is clear on what needs to be done.

I can absolutely understand the tendency to want to blame Islam/Muslims. And if we were to rely solely on our own experiences, I believe that we would arrive at that same conclusion. Fortunately, we have modern prophets and apostles to help keep us grounded in the Spirit so that we can see and understand things as they really are and as they really will be. "We value our Muslim neighbors across the world and hope that those who live by the tenets of their faith will not suffer. I ask particularly that our own people do not become a party in any way to the persecution of the innocent. Rather, let us be friendly and helpful, protective and supportive. It is the terrorist organizations that must be ferreted out and brought down." - President Gordon B. Hinckley, Oct., 2001, The Times in Which We Live Perhaps things have changed since that time, but how prophetic it was that President Hinckley made the statement one month after September 11...

A jumping roundhouse kick to the face... ...has settled more disagreements than it has started. I also believe its its implementation during the presidential debates might sway a few votes. Empathy and kindness towards those who have obviously had a rough day is like a spiritual roundhouse to the heart.

If only there was a "lesser" of these evils to choose from... Hillary should be in jail. Sanders' policies, if actually implemented, would collapse what is left of our economy through runaway inflation. And I dread the day "President Trump" would be faced with September 11 type obstacles where we all have to rely on his judgment and sound logic to get us through the crisis... How can I, in good conscience, vote for any of them?

1. Trump's morals do not align with my own. 2. Trump's political beliefs do not align with my own conservative beliefs. 3. Trump will not win the Republican nomination. They simply have no intention of doing so and you are deluding yourself to think otherwise. These things being true, why should I even concern myself about having to vote for Trump? I get it. You are afraid to let the conservative vote be split and "Ross Perot" another Clinton into office the same way they got in there the first time. The way I see it, Trump IS the Ross Perot of this election, not the other way around...

Just like how you are thinking you saw a double post. This post doesn't exist. (Unless you look directly at it.)

Perhaps some just need imagination...? It really has to do with the shading. When looked at directly, it's obviously a kitten. However, I only vaguely glanced in it's general direction and the shadowy parts of the kitten very similar to the shadowy parts of the pig face. If you are looking directly at the image, you are missing it.

At least a month before I saw it as a kitten instead of thinking it was a pig...

I agree that getting out and serving is a great key. In our stake, we have started using the app called Just Serve. Look it up if you haven't already. Lots and lots of ways to serve alongside people of all walks and religious backgrounds.

I am a Mormon. I see that alcohol has destroyed many families and many people have been killed and injured due to drunk driving. If I am in charge of issuing state liquor licenses to businesses, and I refuse to do so based on my religious beliefs, what would be the expected outcome? How would members of the church likely see me? How would modern Christianity see me? How would society see me?

Sounds to me like Elder Oaks just stated the obvious... D&C 134:9 We do not believe it just to mingle religious influence with civil government, whereby one religious society is fostered and another proscribed in its spiritual privileges, and the individual rights of its members, as citizens, denied. Articles of faith 1: 12 We believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law. I might not like the law. I might believe the law is unjust. I dare say that this particular law will lead to the breakdown of the family in society and thereby will be society's undoing. However, there is no denyng our resonsibility as members of the church towards obeying the laws of the land. However, if such a particular unjust law caused others to be in immediate danger, common sense would dictate to do what must be done. D&C 134:11 We believe that men should appeal to the civil law for redress of all wrongs and grievances, where personal abuse is inflicted or the right of property or character infringed, where such laws exist as will protect the same; but we believe that all men are justified in defending themselves, their friends, and property, and the government, from the unlawful assaults and encroachments of all persons in times of exigency, where immediate appeal cannot be made to the laws, and relief afforded. Again, it seems cut and dry to me.

Well, not to stray too far from the topic at hand, we do have a few scriptures from which to gain insight to a couple of your questions. D&C 77:1 Q. What is the sea of glass spoken of by John, 4th chapter, and 6th verse of the Revelation? A. It is the earth, in its sanctified, immortal, and eternal state. 2 Q. What are we to understand by the four beasts, spoken of in the same verse? A. They are figurative expressions, used by the Revelator, John, in describing heaven, the paradise of God, the happiness of man, and of beasts, and of creeping things, and of the fowls of the air; that which is spiritual being in the likeness of that which is temporal; and that which is temporal in the likeness of that which is spiritual; the spirit of man in the likeness of his person, as also the spirit of the beast, and every other creature which God has created. 3 Q. Are the four beasts limited to individual beasts, or do they represent classes or orders? A. They are limited to four individual beasts, which were shown to John, to represent the glory of the classes of beings in their destined order or sphere of creation, in the enjoyment of their eternal felicity. 4 Q. What are we to understand by the eyes and wings, which the beasts had? A. Their eyes are a representation of light and knowledge, that is, they are full of knowledge; and their wings are a representation of power, to move, to act, etc. The Prophet Joseph Smith also stated: “Says one, ‘I cannot believe in the salvation of beasts.’ Any man who would tell you this could not be, would tell you that the revelations are not true. John heard the words of the beast giving glory to God, and understood them. God who made the beasts could understand every language spoken by them. The beasts were four of the most noble animals that filled the measure of their creation, and had been saved from other worlds, because they were perfect. They were like angels in their sphere. We are not told where they came from, and I do not know; but they were seen and heard by John praising and glorifying God.” (DHC, vol. 5, pp. 343–44.)