Abraham

Hi, Not that this was your origianl question, the veil is not removed from the preexistence at death. In other words at mortal (temporal) death one cannot remmber the preexistence. (until later even if the person goes to pardise). Also, the veil only applies to our six senses, not to our spiritual senses. That means our spirit still remembers and can hint to us what there is beyond. If we read Alma 34:32-34 we read that the same spirit that posseses our body in this life has power to posses our body in that that eternal realm and that we will not change and think 'God will beat us with a few stripes and we will be saved in the kingdom of God'. Therefore, that is scriptural evidence that the veil remains in place until sometime before the judgment, or may afterwards. Lastly, the veil is porportionately as thick as we are to it. In other words as we become closer to the Spirit and Chirst we get closer to the veil and so it 'seems' thinner. As we rebel, disobey, and rely on the natural man we are further away so the veil to us is 'thicker' or harder to penetrate. I hope this helps. Abraham

There willl be an announcment of tithing has changed from one tenth to one fifth. (For those mathematically challenged one fifth is twice as much as one tenth) JK hahahahah Abraham

Send me your em if you feel comfortable. I have the best lists for 72 hour kits. And even if they are too extensive for your activity. It might be good to include so people can augment theirs. Abraham

Goofball - if you are referring to the resurrection of the few, (and the ongoing resurrection) as "a" first resurrection it could be seen that way, but by definition, this is not the morning nor any part of the first resurrection. If anything, it is a resurreciton to testify of the veracity of Christ's power over death, and I'm not talking about those who have been brought back to life (after eally dying) either, such as Lazerus. Now, as far as the Second Resurrection, that is truly rather curious, but if I were her I would not aqcuiesce to the Second, I'd act using my own coined phrase "just-as-if-i-cation" and act "just as if" she (as we all should) were going to come forth in the First Resurrection. As we know sometime scripture (read PB) is not everyting we think it is. Perhaps she has a special mission to perform here upon the earth and is going to be held back. The brethern have told us that virtually all, and I use this term loosely (active) member will come forth in the first resurrection. Let me give you an example, my tribe has been declared in my PB but I am not of the 12 tribes. You see sometimes we don't always get what we expect. BTW - mine is a very special mission, so not to worry (like my wife) hee hee. The Lord will call when he needs her. Tell her not to give up. This may be her test. Abraham

Sorry I've been away so long, but you are correct on all counts. Nice work!! Your bro in the go, Abraham

We know that Lehi was from the tribe of Manessah (the Book of Alma tells us that) but where in the Book of Mormon does it say Ishmael is from the tribe of Ephraim. (Hint: it was in the original Book of Mormon as translated by J.S.) How do we know where it is. (Of course I have the answer). I will give this a couple of days, or until someone sleuths this one out. Abraham

A couple in our Ward just came back from Singapore mission and told of the FIRST time ever that native born Chinese had a temple trip for youth doing baptisms for the dead (in Hong Kong of course). These were not foreign nationals or expatriots but real Chinese youth going to the temple. It was a very touching story. I know you all enjoyed the story about the Cninese government high official who came to SLC and after visting Welfare Square and learned about fast offerings paid his offering the next day. We more than any other are making headways there. My brother-in-law is a Fundamentalist (anti Mormon). He told us he and other like him would sew Bibles into their coats and clothes and smuggle them across the border into China- breaking the law, but felt great that they broke the law for Christ's sake. As you know we have been told that we as LDS will go in the front tdoor or not at all. I felt a very bad spirit when my bil told me he was not honoring their laws. When visting years ago this same brother in law took two of my sons one 6 an one 8 to the 'store'. While in the car he stried to 'save' them. He told them how bad our salavtion based on words was (though untrue). He continued how he had healed, spoken in tounges, performed miracles etc. etc. My young son, with widsom beyond his age, said, "Hey Mark, those sound like works to me!" That shut him up for a long time. Regards, Abraham

The Mayan Calendar may end in 2012 but my calendar ends in 2010. Doesn't mean a whole lot, since it does not connote the end of the world coinciding. They just ran out of room on the stone. (Obviously a oversimplification!) Abraham

I use a combination - as new revelation comes I altar the old notes. I don't just copy them verbatim. So they kind of evolve. Some stay others don't. Abraham

I know many will finish my title with "after all you can do". That makes it sound like if we do our part the Lord somehow is in our debt. "One" we need to hear more about Grace in Church. "After all we can do" leaves us eons away from the Celestial Kingdom even if only a step - as we are either in our out. It is a complex topic only in the sense that understanding let alone comprehending grace, mercy, and the atonement takes a lot, but is there for the feasting. It is a bit of a conundrum to say without works we cannot be saved, and with works we 'deserve' to be saved. Satan woiuld have us think that it doesn't matter anyway, so why try, why work, why obey, why have faith, why find His Church anyway since he wll as Jacob says, "at last he will beat us with a few stripes and we will be saved in the kingdom of God, yea lie a little, take advantage of a friend, there is no harm in this for tomorrow we die..." I think that is II Ne 8: 28 but could be wrong. but the verse is pretty close. Just study and pray and you will see how we fit in the plan, His plan. BTW - I think I am the only LDS who does not like the analagoy of Robisons called "The Bicycle". It is a wonderful journey however, Abraham

These so-called demons can come in different forms. For example, they (or it) may be a disembodied spirit who we call "cling-ons" have died and their spirit does not know where to go, they are as it were lost. Contraray to popular belief not everyone just gets vacuumed up "into the light" sort of like the movie "The Sixth Sense" They can affect our thoughts and emotions to some degree kind of like having a spiritual virus. Secondly, the demon may be a minion of Lucifer who has been sent here to fulfull what he (Satan) promised he would do to posses the bodies created from the beginning. These are spirits who have listend and thus hearkened to Satan's lies that it is too late, they are totally and completely lost, that there is no light. For eons they have been lied to and are in so muc darkness they have come to believe those lies and do not have the common sense to say something like "Satan has never told me the truth, why do I believe him when he tells me Ihave to serve him." NOW THIS IS STRICLTY MY OPINON BASED ON SOME EXPERIENCES AND NOT, I REPEAT NOT DOCTRINE - some of the rebellious spirits who followed Satan were closer to the fence than others who were the worst and most evil on Satan's side. Therefore, some spirts are easier to get rid of than others - I guess I'll leave it at that since I do not make it a habit of spewing conjecture. Finally, for this post anyway, some of us wonder why evile spirits (deomns) do not leave at the command of the Priesthood. This is a touchy subject, but in short, sometimes, we (you) become so comforable with our "little friends or companions" that we do not want to be left alone. We also have been lied to believe that without those influneces we would be left to our own designs and we are worthless (remember lies, lies, lies). Therefrore, we won't let go of the very thing that is destroying us as a false security blanket that blenkets our spirit. So, a PH blessing is first, but have faith, and exercise hope in the Atonment, not in the arm of the flseh. (See II Neph 4: about v. 33 or so where it talks about those who put their faith in the arm of the flesh". Give the demons permission to leave, command him/her to leave _BTW there is a theory that that is why some have same sex attraction since a male may have a female "cling-on" and so have what appears to be same-sex attraction when it is really the spirit who is affecting and displaying that kind of 'opposite" attraction. Again, stricly conjecture - but there is some evidence for that. Fill your spirit and soul with light and seek further counsel from those who know. Be careful not to just accept a naive attempt by some that say something like "jut read your scriptures" they will 'go away'. It is more compleicated than that. Would you have someone read for appendicites?? May the Lord, your brother lift and deliver you. In all humility, Abraham

In general, and I apologize if I missed this point in a previus post, unless your Bishop directly advises you not to partake of the Sacrament, then you (we) should partake. By not partaking we are negating the effects of the Atonement in our lives and also, though well-intentioned, refuse to repent, because without the Atonment our repentance is in vain. Don't be too hard on yourself. Let's remember repentance is an on-going process for which the Lord, in his mercy and grace has provided the Sacrament so we can be renewed with His Spirit weekly, thought weakly also, so we can be cleansed. Abraham

Abr. 3: 18-19 18 Howbeit that he made the greater star; as, also, if there be two aspirits, and one shall be more intelligent than the other, yet these two spirits, notwithstanding one is more intelligent than the other, have no beginning; they existed before, they shall have no end, they shall exist after, for they are bgnolaum, or eternal. 19 And the Lord said unto me: These two facts do exist, that there are two spirits, one being more intelligent than the other; there shall be another more intelligent than they; I am the Lord thy God, I am amore intelligent than they all. and John 10:30, they are one in mind, will, spirit, (but not body because they are Father and Son of course) but what one thinks because they are prefectly aligned each knows what the other is and does this includes the Holy Ghost. Don't forget he said to be ye therfore perfect as your Father in Heaven is perfect, but in speaking to the Nephites he addes "as I or your Father is perfect. He had grown line upon line, precept upon precept and gained empathy, and experientially via the Atonement at Gethsemane and reexperiencing that at Calvary then was perfected. Abraham

1) If you're that concerened about revelation regarding temple work, and following the living prophet, maybe you should wait to go to the temple. 2) You receive your endowment not 'get it' ot 'take it out', if you are endowed with power you don't get to take it with you, it is received like an endowment or gift from the Spirit and the Lord. 3) Focus on preparation and the message of the temple not the mechanics. I know you are from a Western Culture that focuses always on the 'bottom line" e.g., efficiencies, numbers, etc, but you are missing the point. If you get a chance to attend a devotional by the temple President you will be enlightened. All the best in your quest, Abraham

Knowing is a spectral thing. Knowing from a Primary-aged child is a bit different from a Patriarch or an Apostle knowing. I like the encapsulation in II Ne 2:8. What we must do however, is take our 'knowledge' and build it until it becomes perfect. Abraham