anim82r

Actually I was going to add that. But I was just afraid it will be too deep for Curtis. I was thinking of sharing the experience of the Brother of Jared where Moroni recorded, "and he had faith no more for he knew". Because he had seen the Lord even before He was born. I totally agree with you Hem. The Lord himself declared, "blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God". Bruce R. McConckie supported that by saying that that promise can and will actually happen in this mortal realm if one is ready. That the Saints have the right to behold the Glory of God if they are worthy while in the mortal flesh, again emphasizing the experience of the Brother of Jared. Joseph Smith said that, "all Latter-Day Saints may know what Joseph (naming himself) have known if they are prepared".

My wife and I started a small canteen. It was going quite well. As a LDS we strived to be honest in all our doings, because here in our country, the Philippines, many transactions are done under the table , meaning in somewhat illegal way (to make things shortcut), especially when doing transactions or making business with government agencies. I filed my registration in Bureau of Internal Revenues in a legal way (the long cut), we declared that we are tenants of the place where our business is, despite the landlord's advise that we should declare that we are the owner of the place because he did not want to pay the 5% tax of our rent. Well, it was a simple prompting to be honest while I was registering our business. When the Landlord learned of our BIR registration and that we declared we are tenants, he burst into anger. His wife was even worse, telling us all sorts of threats. The land lord said that, "in our day being perfectly honest is never a tool for survival, especially when dealing with government agencies. Since our government is corrupt we might as well tag along to survive". And here's what really surprised me, he said, "I know you are a religious person. But let me give you an advise. It's okay to lie a little, steal a little or hurt someone a little as long as you ask forgiveness after committing those little sins. You have the right to be happy. And sometimes the only way to acquire that is by doing just a little tiny bits of sins. If you want to survive that's what you should be doing, especially in this country! When you die the Lord will whip you with just a few stripes then you'll go to heaven with him". I went to my uncle who is also a leader of a Christian religion and told him what happened to sort of indirectly solicit a sound advise. To my great surprise (and my jaw really dropped) he reiterated almost the exact words my landlord said! We had to close down the business immediately after our confrontation with the landlord. Our heart was so sore in hurting because we were not able to get even just a little return on our investment, and it was quite an investment for a newly wed struggling couple. Even my mother cried painfully because she too had to put a lot of money as a loan to us for that business. Later, I realized that what the landlord and my uncle told us kind of ring a bell. I opened my copy of the Book of Mormon and there it is!!! 2 Nephi 28:8! Then it all came very clear. I may have lost the business but I gained a stronger testimony of the Book of Mormon. Nephi saw these people! He knew that this will be one of most popular teachings in our day. At some point I was thinking, sometimes we really have to pay a great price to earn additional knowledge of the ways of God. That episode in my life left me a very precious evidence that The Book of Mormon is true and that the Church where I belong is indeed in every whit the only true and living Church upon the face of the earth! Need I say more?

My oh my. your discussions here kind'a makes me nervous as a beginner in a forum. Anyway, I think KKTK is just asking if Thomas S. Monson is the LDS equivalent of a pope! In terms of ecclesiastical aspect of both the LDS Church and the Catholic Church, yes Thomas S. Monson is the equivalent of the pope. They're both leaders of their respective religion. All active members of these 2 religions look up to their respective leader, namely, Pope Benedict in the Catholic church and Thomas S. Monson in the LDS Church. I don't think KKTK was concerned with the difference of the two in her inquiry. The fallibility of the two doesn't concern me at all. However, I would like to share my testimony. President Thomas S. Monson is a Prophet of the Lord Jesus Christ. LDS tradition now holds that the senior apostle of the Church gets to become the prophet but the Lord may directly call the next prophet by revelation if He so pleases, and He can call as many as He desires. He organized the calling of the prophet according to seniority of apostleship for reason I don not know but I sustain. I so greatly express my deepest respect for the leader of the Catholic Church Pope Benedict. All righteous, hardworking, and honest leaders of all religions have the right to be inspired by the Holy Ghost. But only Thomas S. Monson Holds the all the Keys of the Priesthood and has the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. I don't just believe that. I know it.

You seem to possess a sweet spirit in you so i think i'm confident enough to share to you how i know God does exist. But before I go on please pardon my english if it can't come across. i'm from the philippines and my language may have idiomatic expressions that when translated into english would give a different meaning. And what I may write here doesn't necessarily represent LDS teachings. What i would assume though is that you're probably looking for some scientific or physical proof of the existence of God. If so then you wouldn't get any. Because although believers such as myself would usually say everything tells you there is a God, I can only assume you wouldn't be easily convinced by that line. In my own analyzing I think that man must go through 4 stages of knowing that there is a God. These are 1. Doubt 2. belief 3. Faith and 4. Knowledge. 1. Someone or something has to or will tell us about the existence of something or someone, in your case the existence of God. Say for instance someone went to another planet, one of your friend maybe. And while traversing that planet he saw a curious fruit tree, picked from it, tasted it, and was satisfied, and was excited to tell his fellow earthlings about this tree. So he went back to earth and started telling you about it. At first maybe you'll doubt that there would ever be such a fruit tree as he described it. But then you can see how convinced he is that such tree do exist. You found that he was consistent every time he describes it so you start 2. believing it. Maybe he went back to that planet and came back again telling you that it really does exist. So now you believe him. But you don't know it yet. you just believe it. you are starting to be sure it does exist even though you haven't seen it. You started having 3. faith in it. Faith as described by Paul is hope for things which are not seen which are true. You're hoping that someday you'd also be able to lay your hands on that tree and taste of its fruit also. With that faith you are moved to save some money to pay for the trip to get to that planet. Finally, you are able to do so. You took the trip and soon enough you find yourself in that planet. And you saw the tree of which that person was telling you about. So now your faith turned into 4. knowledge. At that stage you dont just believe it. you don't just have faith in it. You know it. Because you've seen it. There is proof. It is no longer a subject of dispute or debate. it's there right in front of your eyes beholding it. Now you "know". In the scriptures it is said that, "by the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established". You've heard witnesses of this simple truth that God does exist. I once encountered a person who do not believe in God. and told me that I cannot be so sure i know that God exists simply because he does not believe in God. He straightly said, "You don't know God exist because i don't believe in God. If I don't know it then you don't know it". It's like saying one cannot say he knows the wind exist because the other one can't see it. It's like telling someone you don't know how to speak english because I can't. People have the tendency to judge what other people know but what they don't know. You will need to do some experiment Curtis. For now you are in the 1st stage of knowing that God does exist--Doubt. I'm a person talking from the 4th stage. I don't believe God does exist. I don't just have faith in His existence. I know it. I've seen the proof. I've experienced the proof. I felt the proof. So I am no longer a believer. I am a WITNESS. A witness cannot testify without seeing the proof. But its not the physical or the scientific proof that will convince you of His existence. You must allow His spirit to communicate with your spirit. Once you experience that. you will stop using words such as "sort of" or "kind of" you will have conviction and deep assurance of His existence. YOU WILL KNOW! Now what is that experiment I was talking about? Prayer. Start by praying. Remember, all believers, especially those who know, went through the same process. They all delivered either a simple or profound prayer. Those who are testifying knows that God does exist. Not just sort of or kind of. But with conviction. Just start with calling Him in your prayer, addressing Him as Heavenly Father. Express to Him all your petitions with all your heart. If you don't believe in Spirit, start believing it because it is the only way God WILL communicate with you. You can freely ask Him if He does exist. That's not just a suggestion. That's a challenge. People who pray usually do all the talking, unconsciously thinking that prayer is a one way road. Try listening and let your heart talk instead of your mouth or brain. At first maybe He would not answer. Sometimes that's what He does. I don't know why but He does that. Maybe because of the doubt we have in our hearts. But let me give you a warning though. DON'T ASK FOR SIGNS. Because signs given to the doubting heart stands as witnesses against them of their unbelief and it usually hurts more. And I am talking from experience, so please take heed. This reply does not serve as a convincing tool for you to believe that God does exist. It is a letter from a witness telling you of the process you must undergo to know of the existence of God. It is God who will tell you that He does exist not me or anybody else. He alone has the right to let you know. We the witnesses can only show you the way. You are the one who must enter the door. Know for yourself brother. Even if it takes years for you praying to know. Just do it and in time you'll know it. Anim82r

Sleepless, are you a Filipino also?

Thanks for welcoming me everyone! how do I know if any of you are online?

Gee! Thanks guys! you all are really something. It somewhat eases me from loneliness. I've been away from my family for 5 days now and I'm painfully missing them. I hope you don't mind me correcting you Dazed but People from the Philippines are called Filipinos not philippinos, but it does sound the same he he. Now you're no longer confused lol! Thanks for welcoming me.

hello from the philippines. I'm new here. I'm a LDS.

Ah! where in the world did my post go? Hi guys! I'm fairly new here so I still don't know what I'm doing or where this note will go. I'm from the Philippines and a very happy Latter-Day Saint. I'm quite nervous and excited because I'm not much of a chat or forum savvy kind of guy. This is what I can share for now: Live your life as if Christ is coming today. I don't care what religion you belong to. I love you as much as I love my fellow LDS.

hi guys! I'm fairly new here so I still don't know where this note goes. I'm from the Philippines. An exceedingly happy Latter-Day Saint. I'm excited and nervous because I'm not really much of a chat or forum savvy kind of guy. The thing that I can share for now is Live your life as if Christ is coming today. I don't care what religion you belong to. I love you as much as I love my fellow LDS.

You are actually experiencing a classic manifestation of someone who is thirsty and hungry for truth. I've been through all that myself 11 years ago, but maybe not as strictly scientific as you are. But I think no one has the right to compare his or her experiences with others and say theirs is better or worse. But I can sympathize with you a great deal. I was once a believer of evolution like you. But when I was investigating the Church, I understood that the mysteries of God is only unfolded to those who are prepared. No LDS so faithful and well versed could ever convince you of the truthfulness of the Church. Not even the Prophet himself. Our testimonies would not even be enough, the result of which will only be realized after this life. No matter how much scientific or archeological or historical proof we feed you it would all be to no avail unless the Lord Himself tells you. Now that is the thing that requires great faith and spiritual preparation. If you've already read the Book of Mormon, I'm sure you've come across Alma's advise where he "compared the word unto a seed" Alma 32: 28 - 43. This I think would come close to your requirement of knowing the truth. Then, yes, do as you are advised by your Bishop and by those whom you spoke with, which is ask of God. I would like to bear you my testimony that, yes, God also ordained science and technology for man's benefit. All these modernization happening around us is not in contradiction to the Lord's plan. If so, then Isaiah's prophecies will all be in vain because he surely has seen our day. One more thing, I'm sure your wife does have that LDS editon of the Bible. Please find time to look up in the Bible Dictionary the word Prayer, and see how it will work. Lastly, I would like to tell you that I'm probably the happiest person here to ever knowing your concerns. Because if you keep that kind of attitude, the next step would be where we faithful LDS are, no matter how long it takes. I can only be excited! Watermark (from the Philippines) ps. I'm new in this site so please be easy on me:)

I used to be known as watermark in the two-way radio so I guess I'll just have to use that here, and yes you may call me by. I'm a faithful LDS and boy am I so glad I found the True Church of Christ! I can't wait to somehow preach here in a humble way. I'm from the Philippines and this is my first time joining some forum such as this one. I hope you guys go a little easy on me. I do not know exactly what to say or do for now because i'm not much of a computer savvy so i'll just have to leave this little intro about me here and hope for some of you to reply or something. I'd be happy to be helped or advised by some of you. watermark

S.F. Hi! I'm fairly new in this site and this is my first attempt to join in some forums or discussions. And this is my first time to reply. I really could not gather my thoughts at the moment so I could not say something about Prayer and God's will, so I just thought this one from the Bible Dictionary would suffice. Also, although you can't see me I do feel nervous doing this, hoping everything I do and say will be correct. I'm sorry I have to put them all here, I just couldn't find nothing to deleat from the Bible Dictionary's definition/ explanation about prayer. Perhaps, you might also want to study it out in your mind some history about prayer. Please pay particular attention to the 7th paragraph. I especially love that Fact. BIBLE DICTIONARY Prayer Before the first generation of mankind had passed away, men began to call upon the name of the Lord (Gen. 4: 26; Moses 5: 4). Prayers, whether with (Gen. 12: 8; Gen. 13: 4) or without (Gen. 20: 7; Gen. 32: 9-11) sacrifice, were constantly offered by the patriarchs to God. The efficacy of the intercession of good men was recognized (Gen. 18: 23; Gen. 20: 7; Ex. 32: 11). Prayer is nowhere specifically commanded as a duty in the law, and prayers were not prescribed at the sacrifices except on two occasions: a confession of sin on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16: 21), and a thanksgiving when offering the firstfruits and tithes (Deut. 26: 3, 13). It is, however, certain from the nature of things, and from the custom in later times, that prayer accompanied sacrifice. Even in the times of the Judges, the children of Israel did not forget to cry unto the Lord, and a model of prayer is furnished by Hannah (1 Sam. 2: 1). Samuel was recognized by his nation to be characteristically a man of prayer (1 Sam. 7: 5, 8; 1 Sam. 12: 19, 23; Ps. 99: 6). David’s Psalms, and the Psalms generally, breathe the highest spirit of prayer. The nation that possessed them must have been rich in teachers and examples of prayer. Remarkable prayers were prayed by Solomon (1 Kgs. 8); Hezekiah (2 Kgs. 19: 14, etc.; Isa. 38: 9, etc.); Ezra (Ezra 9: 5); the Levites (Neh. 9: 5, etc.); and Daniel (Dan. 9: 3, etc.). “Making many prayers” was a part of the corrupt religion of Israel under the later kings (Isa. 1: 15), and a marked feature of the religion of the Pharisees (Matt. 6: 5; Matt. 23: 14). It was the custom to pray three times a day. So David (Ps. 55: 17), Daniel (Dan. 6: 10), and the later Jews. Prayer was said before meat (1 Sam. 9: 13; Matt. 15: 36; Acts 27: 35). The attitude of prayer ordinarily was standing (1 Sam. 1: 26; Neh. 9: 2, 4; Matt. 6: 5; Luke 18: 11, 13); also kneeling (1 Kgs. 8: 54; Dan. 6: 10; Ezra 9: 5); or prostrate (Josh. 7: 6; Neh. 8: 6). The hands were spread forth to heaven (1 Kgs. 8: 22; Ezra 9: 5; Isa. 1: 15; Ps. 141: 2). Smiting on the breast and rending of the garments signified special sorrow (Luke 18: 13; Ezra 9: 5). The Lord’s attitude in prayer is recorded only once. In the Garden of Gethsemane he knelt (Luke 22: 41), fell on his face (Matt. 26: 39), fell on the ground (Mark 14: 35). It is noteworthy that Stephen (Acts 7: 60), Peter (Acts 9: 40), Paul (Acts 20: 36; Acts 21: 5), and the Christians generally (Acts 21: 5) knelt to pray. Prayers were said at the Sanctuary (1 Sam. 1: 9-12; Ps. 42: 2, 4; 1 Kgs. 8), or looking toward the Sanctuary (1 Kgs. 8: 44, 48; Dan. 6: 10; Ps. 5: 7); on the housetop or in an upper chamber (Acts 10: 9; Dan. 6: 10). The Pharisees prayed publicly in the synagogues and at the corners of the streets (Matt. 6: 5). The Lord prayed upon the tops of mountains (Matt. 14: 23; Luke 9: 28), or in solitary places (Mark 1: 35). As soon as we learn the true relationship in which we stand toward God (namely, God is our Father, and we are his children), then at once prayer becomes natural and instinctive on our part (Matt. 7: 7-11). Many of the so-called difficulties about prayer arise from forgetting this relationship. Prayer is the act by which the will of the Father and the will of the child are brought into correspondence with each other. The object of prayer is not to change the will of God, but to secure for ourselves and for others blessings that God is already willing to grant, but that are made conditional on our asking for them. Blessings require some work or effort on our part before we can obtain them. Prayer is a form of work, and is an appointed means for obtaining the highest of all blessings. There are many passages in the N.T. that teach the duty of prayer (e.g., Matt. 7: 7; Matt. 26: 41; Luke 18: 1; Luke 21: 36; Eph. 6: 18; Philip. 4: 6; Col. 4: 2; 1 Thes. 5: 17, 25; 1 Tim. 2: 1, 8). Christians are taught to pray in Christ’s name (John 14: 13-14; John 15: 7, 16; John 16: 23-24). We pray in Christ’s name when our mind is the mind of Christ, and our wishes the wishes of Christ - when his words abide in us (John 15: 7). We then ask for things it is possible for God to grant. Many prayers remain unanswered because they are not in Christ’s name at all; they in no way represent his mind, but spring out of the selfishness of man’s heart. Book of Mormon references on prayer include 1 Ne. 18: 3; Alma 34: 17-28; Ether 2: 14.