Magen_Avot

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Everything posted by Magen_Avot

  1. While pondering the above, I came accross the following: George W. Pace Sept 1974 What it means to know Christ "To know the Lord is to know he loves us all with an infinite love. To taste of that love is to love others even as he loves them." This fits perfectly with my experience.
  2. I'm giving that some contemplation having read it recently... I think. I think you are going in the direction of church members, but any input to what "having a personal relationship with His church" means?
  3. I have done some re-reading of responses with some of them in my thoughts since they were posted. The reason is, like some, this subject has filled my thoughts for a while now. Today I was looking at the church website and did a search on "personal relationship with Christ" and came accross an Oct 1976 general conferance talk by Elder James E Faust titled, "A Personal Relationship with the Savior". A Personal Relationship with the Savior - general-conference He described a group of missionaries being asked, "What is the greatest need in the world?” and said one missionary said, "Is not the greatest need in all of the world for every person to have a personal, ongoing, daily, continuing relationship with the Savior?” Another point Elder Faust makes is this, "Since our own feelings are sacred to us and cannot be disputed by others, let us begin with those quiet assurances which occasionally can come to all of us and which we know are true. We cannot always prove these verities to others, yet they come as a form of knowledge." These statements ring true to my experience and feelings, and I have been given more to contemplate by your sharing. May your journey on the path to Christ be blessed.
  4. Not to brow beat anyone,... but Until now the rules have been a bit fuzzy on the subject, but it will mean investigators can better read between the lines, while missionaries get more re-furrels. Its a win win!
  5. Well, I'm taking a few steps back,... just in case.
  6. Lady bugs will swarm to a specific location in the thousands. I've seen this twice and scooped up a double handful just once when I learned,... they bite!
  7. Sour Kraut: Chopped or shredded cabbage salted and fermented in its own juice. Hmmm...
  8. Those who kept not their first estate obtaining the blessings of the atonement? Haven't heard that before and while I don't view it as doctrine, we know Christ will forgive whom He will. Any source material? Doesn't sound like it but thought I'd ask. Sounds interesting though.
  9. Well,.. ok then... thanks As to the question, "can we touch a spirit"... I have yet to be accused of being a scientist, but... I don't believe so. I would pose this question instead, "Can a spirit touch us?. IMO... Yes, in a manner of speaking. Why I say this is due to personal experience. The binding of JS's tongue and the imobility is consistant in my thinking and I have never had an issue with it. Being received at death in the arms or bosom of loved ones? Not sure but I see this as a figure of speech.
  10. FresNoNoNo, It is often very difficult to formulate "the" answer that would be the most helpful. The question I hear you asking is how you can know you are forgiven? We cannot know or judge the depth of your sorrow or hulility of heart beyond what you have written, only our Savior can clearly understand, or apply the atonement and so I think there is only one thing that you can do, or continue to do... Cultivate your relationship with Christ and give your life to Him. It's not like any of us have never heard that. But there are so many fewer who have experienced it. There is no other way except through Jesus Christ and He is waiting for us,... for all of us to just go to Him,... for YOU,... to go to Him, to find Him, to know Him and His love for YOU. He will forgive you if you let Him. The only barrier is... You.
  11. I'm confused. You present yourself as a scientist, but I don't read that in your comments. Are you a scientist with a doctorate in a scientific field? A self proclaimed scientist? Basement DIY scientist? Occult scientist or supernatural scientist? The statement of "LDS Scientist" can mean what was already asked, "scientology" like scientist (can that even exhist?) or some kind of pseudo-scientist of LDS people, theories, opinions or doctrine or what have you? Can you share a bit more background? What's your interest in this topic? That said, skippy gave a great doctrinal response.
  12. ArcticTofu,... no one can know your pain, or what you are experiencing except you,... and the Savior... let me share my current favorite saying... If we cold look into each other's hearts and understand the unique challenges each of us faces, I think we would treat each other much more gently, with more love, patience, tolerance, and care. ~Marvin J. Ashton I have my own experiences that help me to understand where you are comming from, short of walking in your steps and I would say the following because of where I am now... Life is about our own individual journey that, hopefully, will take us to Christ, if we go to Him. Nothing will make our lives better than finding love in and through Jesus. Even forgiving others outright will not bring the joy and happiness we deserve,... the love you deserve, unless we experience the love of Jesus with it (see PC's post). When we do... when we finally do, we know His love for others, even for those who cultivate and spread uncaring words and actions. Then all those remarks, all those actions will mean absolutely nothing to you. I have experienced this and I think that what the others are trying to say. I'm not talking about staying in the church or leaving. I'm saying we are all in different places and sometimes we may need to temper our lives with Matthew 23 verses 1-3 especially, but what is really important is that considering where any of us may be we deserve the time needed to progress and the real barrier is our own feelings, emotions and attitudes. That may not sound too awfully true at times, but I have found it to be so. I have been allowed more than 50 years to get to this point and we all deserve as much time as it takes, but we don't all get it. For you, right now, this is not about "them", or any of us on this forum. It is about you and your Lord. It will continue to be about you and your Lord where ever you are... in or out of the church, on or off the path to Christ, seeking or having found joy, happiness and the love of God. I see our journey along the path that Christ marked, as a building with stairs that strengthen us and celestial windows from which to view our ascent. As we rise, closer to Him, our perspective of mortal probation changes and we are able to see more clearly the landscape of life, and therefore comprehend, ourselves and others more perfectly, more... like the God we worship. He,... our Master, is calling all of us. It is He who is saying, "Come unto Me." Right where we are. My invitation to to turn to Him, such that it is, is feeble and impersonal, and for that I appologize.
  13. While I really enjoyed Into Darkness, I'm getting tired of the new Kirks anti-rules attitude being in the forefront, making him 'whiney'. He's now been fired and reinstated more times than the whole rest of Star Trek known history. I thought the need to break the prime directive needed more depth and wasn't 'accidental' enough. I utterly loathe Spock having a girlfriend. Khan wasn't from India this time... Why did we have to even do Khan again? Why are the star ships getting even better than the ones we knew in the future? ...and I've 'hated' thos damnable tribbles since I first saw them at 8 years old. (breath)... In all, too simple and relied on material already written with just a few tweaks added. I wonder if William Shatner coud have done better? Still, it wasn't the first Star Trek movie, or saving the whales or looking for god. I'm gonna go see it again...
  14. I thought it was more of an Apple Computer user thing... I was about to comment more about what that might just mean, but then I just heard that bubble headed idiot holler, "Danger, Danger".
  15. Hmmm,... The same principle seems to apply to some of my posts. It reads smart, thoughtful, logical, clear and funny too, when I write it. ....when I log off the post is none of the above.
  16. "Silence, you ninny." Dr. Zachary Smith
  17. I've been in shallow water at the beach at St Thomas and turned to see a 7ft shark just a few feet away comming toward me,... I remember thinking, "well that's curious,... now what kind of shark do you suppose that is? Croc or gator? Can you really tell through the cloud of dust running for your life at full speed?
  18. We could just quote RipplecutBuddha
  19. Why does your computer fix itself when the IT guy comes over to look at it? (I'm the IT guy and it happens ALL the time)
  20. Hypothermia! Why do smoke detector batteries always go flat at night? - Yahoo! Answers Of course, if you want a second opinion: Why do smoke alarm batteries only die in the middle of the night? | Bronx | Yelp ...which features Dr. Gonzo M's enlightened position......... "Dr. Gonzo M. says: Because they feed off the ambient photons in your room when there is light out. Sometimes the shadowy robot masters suck away too much electricity at night and they go dead. There is no conspiracy. All hail the robot masters and their smoke detecting progeny."
  21. My first time was in the Cardston Alberta Temple back in 1979. There was no classes to attend, no endowed parents in the home or anyone to prepare me. I was active in Seminary the previous 4 years and had read the PoGP. How can you be prepared fully before hand? For me, it was the Bees Knees (for Eowyn). Since then I have learned that attending church prepares us for the Temple and attending the Temple prepares us for the Eternities. I have also noted that what we do in the Temple points us to Christ symbolicaly (with real heart/might/mind and strength applications) in what we see, do and say. It is a form of 'oblation' or a solemn offering. When we go we dedicate our time to focus our minds and hearts on the Savior in a physical, yet spiritual way that can be more benificial than staying home and reading the scriptures for the same amount of time. This is the difference between 'fasting and prayer' over just praying. The most needed thing is 'attitude'. Even if a person doesn't view the ceremony as 'weird', if they go through the whole thing begrudgingly, it would have been better to stay home. Perhaps prayer, or fasting and prayer before you return and a prayer in your heart as you worship in the Temple will, at some point, bring the blessings of understanding you seek. (sorry, I know smiley faces don't have real wings)
  22. My wife experiences the same thing,... no, not the shoe compliments, the disconnect with RS sisters. For years and multiple wards. Being on the outside looking in, I'd say pray to change your attitude about things and seek that change. My disconnect with members in general is much greater in the Middle East from my personal experience. (I'd take my normal disconnect any day) I don't take it personal and accept the situation as a blessing that must be found. I can accept members for who they are, but there was a day. I'm not very social so it's difficult at times. You're not me so maybe my thoughts don't mix well for you but there is help in the Lord and He can help you find a way.