Anddenex

Lying for fun. The connotation is bad. Teasing for fun... this can be a crack up. L_M, those videos are so funny to see the children's reactions. It is like the parents who say, "I ate your candy." The one child response was hilarious. Whenever I read threads about lying I now always have the image of "honest Abe" and the commercial where his wife asks, "Does this dress make my butt look big"? Honest Abe's response is hilarious. I guess we all have a different sense of humor, however, Vort if you are referring to the lie apparently regarding buying the powerball tickets, then yes, why would people lie about something like this??

Interesting, I have never heard anyone refer to this verse as accidentally killing someone until now.

You mean like how they are remaking "Red Dawn" with the Chinese now instead of Russia?

I remembered the guy getting shot between the legs through the woman's skirt.

Well, this really depends on your interpretation of some specific verses in the Bible, Old Testament. In Exodus 21: 13 we read, The verses previous to this verse speak of a man smiting another man. This verse speaks of a person, who isn't seeking to kill anybody, but in the process the Lord delivers this person, then the person has a right to kill them, and the Lord appoints a place to flee. In light of this verse, we know Nephi did not lie in wait, and we know that Laban was delivered into Nephi's hands by the Lord, and we know Nephi was given a place to flee in the wilderness. I am more inclined to believe that Nephi actually obeyed the provisions already given by prophets within the Old Testament.

I agree with you RM on this factor. On my mission a Bishop begin allowing his wife who was the Relief Society President to conduct sacrament meetings, and also allowed women to pass the sacrament. As a result of no one standing up, the whole ward was disbanded. My father also tells me of an experience in Alabama, during the time we lived in the ward, where the Stake President asked the EQP to allow a 19 male to live with them who recently was released from jail. The EQP prayed about it, and received a witness from the Lord to "NOT" allow the young man to live with them. The S.P. persuaded and out of respect for his S.P. he allowed the young man to live with him. The result, the young man committed adultery with his wife, and his wife left him and the kids for this young man, ran away with him. It is always better to follow the Holy Ghost, then good intentions of our leaders. At the same time, if we make such a decision then we better be right, or we are breaking covenants. EDIT: As pertaining to a prophet's counsel, or an apostles, I don't think they are in the same boat as a Bishop or an S.P.

We currently have a Bishop in our Stake with a goatee. I always thought Bishops needed to be clean shaven, however for some reason this young Bishop is allowed to have a goatee.

I finished explaining this to myself, prophet is now profet, and Pfizer in now Fizer. Settled. :)

I like the goatee better than a beard.... however, if you think it is because I can't grow a full beard and because my beard is patchy, I will deny it.

Excellent. I hope you recognize that I am not being argumentative also, solely providing why I would agree and why I would disagree with the sentiments. I enjoy the conversation and other viewpoints, especially from fellow Latter-Day Saints. I would find it weird to believe that there isn't a natural explanation to our spiritual matter and its relation to our Heavenly Father. There is probably a natural explanation also, after the veil is removed from all of us, as to why we start out as spirits and not having already a body of flesh and bone like our Heavenly Father. EDIT: When you mentioned Promotheus, however, I was reminded of when my family of origin was having a conversation regarding the most powerful mafia presently on earth (e.g. Italian, Russian, etc...). My mother responded, "Oh, that is the Russian Mafia of course. They are the most powerful." We then asked her, "Why do you think the Russian Mafia is the most powerful?" Mother responded, "Law and Order said so."

Nope, not at all. I was being sarcastic, your judgement is a little off. Yes, I recognized this after rereading your post, thus, my sarcasm fell very short. Now, I am hoping you are being sarcastic with reference to other nationalities languages. Why do Americans consider "ph" for an "f" sound? I wonder if other languages, nationalities, assume that is pretty strange? If we recognize the "wh" as an "hw," as if we are blowing air, then the "ph" should be "paha", thus prophet, should be pronounced "propahet"

Nope, I did not see the movie Promotheus, and I am not sure how Promotheus will teach me about Heavenly Father. We are of the same substance, however, I am trying to figure out why you think the substance of our spirits, that is in the image of God, carry any DNA. If you are referring to DNA in a general term, then I would agree. If you are referring the scientific definition of DNA, I don't believe my spirit had any DNA, and it was my spirit, the body of my spirit, which my body is in likeness of, that was already in the image of God.

We are "intelligence." Our spirits were gaining knowledge before we even came to earth. Our brain and bodies were not necessary for knowledge to collect. Our memories will be passed on through our spirits, no different than how we learned previously and retained that knowledge before the veil. In light of this I am not following your point. I agree with Talmage. Miracles are Celestial laws we have not yet understood. We don't know, but it can be fun to speculate. Now, I have read two things pertaining to Joseph Smith's quote regarding God was once a man. I have read that he was referring only to Jesus Christ, not God the Father, and I have read that he was referring to God the Father. If only referring to Christ, which then the statement would be correct, that God was once a man, seeing that we believe Christ to be part of the Godhead. However, if only referring to Christ, then we have a dilemma, and did God really mature as we do, his offspring? Have no clue, but again, fun to speculate. President Hinckley said it best, when asked about Heavenly Father, we don't know, there isn't much said. I don't believe we are "metaphorically" the spirit offspring of God. We are the literal spirit offspring of our Heavenly Father. Maybe I am misunderstanding the point with regard to "spirit/metaphorical children." DNA? I don't believe I had any DNA when I was a spirit. I have DNA because of the blood which runs through my carnal and corrupt body. Will DNA exist as a glorified body of flesh and bone, not blood? I personally don't think so. I can find nothing scripturally to support this. Does God have DNA? I am more inclined to believe this is a negative, but openly express I could be wrong.

Let's start with your main question, what is the role of a prophet? 1st - The main role of a prophet is the bear witness of Christ and his gospel. 2nd - To teach, guide, and direct the affairs of God's church upon the earth. 3rd - To chasten, and warn civilizations of the judgments of God which are about to come. 4th - To receive revelation for the collective body of the church. President Spencer W. Kimball receiving revelation regarding our African American brothers and the priesthood. 5th - In the passing of an Apostle, they call new Apostles to the Lord's work. 6th - They serve the people as God would have them serve. They assist in the dedication of temples. 7th - They delegate certain elements of the Church to Apostles and General Authorities who act under the keys they hold. These are roles of our prophet. I am sure others could provide more, but this suffices for me for this question. Why? Does everything a prophet speaks have to be a revelation from God? Note, have you recognized how many books have been written by prophets and apostles? If so, have you noticed how the church authorities now say, "This is my opinion and it is not church doctrine." The Church leaders are now more careful in their speech, than previously. The idea of other people believing it as a revelation does not dictate that it was a revelation. People are given the opportunity to govern themselves. If they want to be governed by the opinion of a prophet, then that is their choice. This type of thought is highly presented within anti-Mormon threads to try to make something harmless look awful and bad, this is called sophistry. Even Brigham Young was concerned during his time that people would not think for themselves, and believe every word from a Prophet was a revelation from God. I remember reading a story about President Young walking by a neighbor working on his house, the roof. He warned this brother to be careful and not to fall, and giving some personal advice. After President Young said this, the man began singing "We Thank Thee Oh God for a Prophet." President Young wasn't speaking as a prophet, nor giving a voice of warning as a prophet, he was speaking as a man. Our prophets in the past have shared some interesting points of view, for example, that Adam received another wife from another planet. Very interesting, but not doctrine. Nothing suspicious either. I have never been concerned by what a prophet teaches, unless it becomes official cannon. Then, I give heed. I don't buy into this type of claim either. However, I don't fault them either. If this is what they feel is important to them, then I accept it, as their belief, not mine own. How a General Authority speaks doesn't negate the Church is true. I think you are too concerned with subtle nuances within speech verses actually verifying for yourself if the church is true. Really? All you have to do is purchase one of his books, especially his biography which was recently published. If you want to know what he does, read his biography. Read all the biographies of past prophets and you will get an idea of who they were, what type of men they were, and how they loved and served God. Questioning is the nature of all men and women. Without a question we cannot receive a revelation from God. I would recommend reading the Book of Mormon. Read it over again. Do not expect the Lord to deliver a witness to you the way you want it. He will deliver a witness that is best for you, if you have ears to hear, and eyes to see. Serve faithfully in callings at church. Fast and pray. If you are doing these things, then continue doing them. The Lord will always provide a witness, in his time, and in his way, and if we are humble we will recognize his witness. Best wishes.

I have been told by people there is no difference between scientology and lds, so no harm done

I think then, this is where I personally have a hard time speaking of God as merely an advanced human or evolved race. Correct, a new body is given, but in an advanced race why would a new body be necessary? I don't see a new body being necessary to be considered an advanced race. I would agree that any highly advanced race could appear to a lower educated society/civilization as a God, but the question remains, is the highly advanced race a God race? For example, Star Trek, these episodes show how they visit worlds who are no where near as advanced as they are, but the federation is not a God, but could be considered a God, by these less educated races. What then stems, or transitions a higher evolved civilization truly to a God, verses merely being more educated? The "Q", are an advanced race with Godlike qualities, at the snap of a finger they change events within lower species, yet even the offspring of the Q are in exact form as their parentage. Our parentage however, is not the same form as their offspring, why is this? In order to become like our God, our Heavenly Father, we must first receive a mortal body, die, and then resurrect with a new body. I personally feel, we dumb down God by merely thinking he is an advance evolved civilization. But, then again, if this is how it is, it doesn't hurt my testimony, it is how it is.

No, Brigham Young did not teach that miracles are an advanced "science", but we have been taught that they are apart of a Celestial law we have not yet understood. If you want to define this as science that is purely up to you. Is God bound by physics or did God create physics? There is a very interesting discussion if you search it regarding this. All of God's children, good or evil, return to God after death. In judgement we then receive our reward. There is no purpose for an atonement in an advanced race if that is all that God is, an alien civilization. Why death? How does death evolve us into an advanced alien race? Why even come to earth to gain a body? Why were we spirits and not already like our advanced parentage if all God is is an advanced race? You asked for loopholes, these are the loopholes I see in merely thinking God is solely an "advanced race and civilization."

My wife loved her Kitchen Aid on her birthday

Is not Jesus our God, and wasn't Jesus born on this planet?

Thus "what" would actually be "hat", the "w" silent, and "when" would be "hen", and "which" would be "hich".

Correct, the majority, if not all, of members believe that the Bible is not 100% accurate. The flood I am more inclined to believe a recent quote posted here on lds.net, which specified how in baptism some of the body is deeply covered by water, where at times peoples hair may be covered by the water at a different depth. It doesn't matter how deep the water was to cover the mountains, it only matters that they were covered. Others have shared a localized flood. The star most likely was newly created planet. As with any star during the day it wasn't there due to the light of the sun, and at night it was seen again. Yes, people definitely lived as long as they say in the Bible. God is able to lengthen or shorten our days at his will. Some agree, some don't. I think of revelation to the prophets like revelation to myself. At times, I have a clear words spoken unto me and I am able to recall and write them as they were given, word for word, as from the voice of the Holy Spirit. Other times they are impressions written down and are a partial product of my mind. I am more inclined as such to believe prophets receive the same type of revelation. I find this type of question ridiculous, nothing meant in offense, just what I feel. God doesn't need to lift the rock, through the priesthood he commands elements and they move and obey. It is a pointless statement, in my opinion. Cleon Skousen is a man with his own opinions and he can have them, as anybody else. This question reminds me of conversation I had with a friend about how if God is all powerful, then can he create a rock he can't jump over? I find these conversation really silly and juvenile. Very interesting thoughts, but nothing in scripture backs up your thoughts. Questions I would ask, what does it mean that God is spirit? What is the purpose of death to becoming like God then? Why do we just not change like the "ancients" in Stargate? Death to become like a highly evolved civilization doesn't make any sense. God just being an advanced civilization and race negates the atonement. There is no point to the atonement if God is but an advanced race. An advanced race/civilization would care for knowledge, not a person dying so that others could be saved. The Priesthood. If God is just an advanced race then what is the priesthood? Is it just a name for "higher intellect?" No one thinks you a nut job. This is just evidence that when people say Mormons are brainwashed and can not think on their own, well, this proves it highly wrong. The Lord has given us a mind to think, and to think for ourselves, it is great. No, from a 21st century view point this is not what we believe. The questions you have proposed and statements presented are speculative, not doctrinal.

Yes, in Utah, where creek is crick...hehe

My sister never thought she would give up reading paper back books, or hard covers, over an ebook reader. That was until I gave her my Nook, now she loves the Nook.

Where in the US would you need to be from in order to be considered as one with a "strange dialect"...hmm? Utah

I am in accordance with the same understanding as Maureen. I remember being taught that the "h" was silent also.