Anddenex

When I think of this question my first thoughts turn to Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac. I am thinking any righteous woman that had their husband approach them and say, "Hun, the Lord told me to sacrifice Isaac like an animal," wouldn't be very pleased, nor would they be very receptive. Yet, despite the righteous feelings of a spouse, Abraham would have had to do as the Lord commanded. Despite the feelings of many spouses in the early days of the Church, the Lord commanded polygamy and they lived it. When it is best, truly best for the family, I think this is a time when the spouse should consider the feelings of their spouses, but always do what is best. When the Lord commands, a person should do no matter what the spouse feels. We know from scripture that Lehi's wife, Sariah, was not happy that her sons were sent back to Jerusalem, yet the sons were still sent. These are the first thoughts that enter into my head.

Don't ever give up on that hope. Continue faithful. There is a story within our Church of a man from Italy who easily waited over 40 years to be baptized. It is a great testimony of the reality of this as the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. EDIT: I am not saying or implying is should take you this long. But be faithful to the witness the Lord has given you.

When I think about the shift in times and beliefs I am reminded of specific verses in scripture: 1 Timothy 4: 1 - 3 2 Timothy 3:

There are other issues which will keep the church in the spot light. People will always be curious about the LDS Faith, especially with a ton of new sister missionaries about to enter into the field of service.

Obvious. Premise...the world didn't end. Bob's comment, albeit a harsh example, the premise...the world still didn't end, doesn't mean it isn't a bad or hurtful thing. The analysis...the world ending isn't a good comparison to judge if everything is ok or not.

If you have the opportunity to serve a mission... I would serve a mission. There were so many wonderful experiences and knowledge the Lord granted me that I would not have obtained without it. As pertaining to the age of male missionaries serving a mission, the cut off is 26 for members of the church typically born under the covenant, or have been members for the majority of their lives. There are exceptions to the age 26 in connection to converts. I know a missionary who served with a missionary who was 32. Thus, it really depends on who is presiding over the potential missionary at the time, and their individual circumstance. On a side note, welcome to the fold. I think also, in some ways, because you are a convert you can more easily intimately understand questions from converts, because you were once one.

I have since my mission, 15 years ago, had the understanding similar to this brother in reference to Kolob and Jesus Christ. Thus, I would agree with bytor... and I am confused on how someone would consider a Hymn "pop doctrine".

I believe I would tend to accept the "intelligent autonomous operating individuals" also. As you have shared when the queen dies the hive is doomed. I wonder, is there any research contemplating the combination of the two hive intelligences? I am thinking, Bishops - Bishoprics - Auxiliary Presidents - Teachers - etc... Do you think the two could be symbiotic or coexist with each other? Or is the one more in reference to a "dictatorship" type government? EDIT: I am wondering also if this would apply to CEOs who like to bottleneck everything that goes on in their business, referencing "intelligent overseer"?

Then we both don't understand each other. I do not understand why one would think becoming one with God means we loose individual appearance. In scripture a husband and wife become "one flesh", this does not mean that she inherits my flesh, and I inherit hers. This means we become one, one can interpret "one flesh" as the ability to bring children into the world, one flesh. I don't think my children in order to become one with me, need to have a change of appearance. Nope, I think you are misunderstanding what I say when I mean perfect. I find no evidence in scripture that a person's appearance will change, when we become one with God. Perfection: without any ailments, no handicaps, no down syndrome, no genetic code mutations. A man born without limbs, will have limbs in the resurrection. I guess what I am saying is in connection with Traveler's response. I am already made in the image of God, why would my appearance need to change save it be genetics that only apply to this life? Examples again: I will no longer have freckles (YES!). There will be no black, white, brown, yellow skin tones. The skin tone will be glory. I believe our eyes will no longer be brown, blue, green, etc... They will be the same eyes described in scripture pertaining to Christ. However, now upon Traveler's responses, I think I understand more of what he was getting across, and would like to discuss this "hive intelligence mind" more. However, of course, feel free, as you already do, to rebuttal.

If I am understanding your response correctly with the 10 large balloons, and science calling this a "hive intelligence response", then yes I would agree. However, when I think of a hive mind, I think of bumble drones, who really have no intelligence of their own. They just do. So I am not fond of the wording, but I agree the symbiosis hive intelligence response, is much better than a single individual intelligence, even if they are Stephen Hawkings. I really wish wards would recognize the power behind this "hive intelligence" you speak of. The problems in wards, is to many minds thinking they know better than another, and they think their way is the better way, thus they break a connection, and thus the ward suffers. EDIT: Are you able to link me to this 10 Large Balloons experiment. This will be a great training about unity and oneness within a ward.

Yes Brother JosephP, this is a family church, and you are a part of the family of Adam. Adam desires, as any righteous father, that all his sons receive an eternal reward. I believe Vort said it correctly also, thus I am quoting him:

If I am understanding you correctly Traveler. My answer would be "Yes."

This is an interesting thought, however it would be interesting to note, assuming Joseph Smith actually said, that Joseph Smith once said that his brother Hyrum looked like Seth. Another note, when John the Baptist, a resurrected being bestowed the Aaronic Priesthood, was he looking like Jesus, and Heavenly Father in appearance, or did he look he look like John the Baptist. I am in the belief that he looked like John the Baptist wrapped in Celestial Glory. We must remember also, that Joseph Smith was visited by resurrected beings, all the prophets who died before Christ, who were apart of key dispensations. I am more inclined to believe they looked like they did when they were here upon the earth, except perfect. I look at height, in the same light I see freckles, colored skin, brown eyes vs. blue eyes, down syndrome, obesity, etc... all genetic codes which some will have truly no appearance in the next life. I will not have freckles. Could I be taller? Sure. Could others be smaller? Sure. Will there be height differences. I believe there will be. I don't think we all need to be the same in appearance: height, facial structure, bone structure, in order for us to be one with God. I find no doctrinal evidence to suggest this. I do find doctrinal evidence to suggest otherwise. Me too. I am not claiming anything as my own. I am only accepting the gift God has given me, and when I live worthy enough for Celestial exaltation to receive this gift also. :)

Ahh JAG, don't be a baby... everybody is doing it.

My surgery wasn't so smooth either L_M, even though she has done over 20K surgeries. I found out that my cornea is 1.8 mls. smaller than the average persons. The average person is apparently 12 mls. I am 10.2 mls. The epithelium was removed, but I had to wait for 30 minutes before they could actually proceed with the laser treatment. Apparently in removing my epithelium bubbles were created that would have had interfered with the laser treatment. When the bubbles dissipated, I was able to proceed. Despite the hemorrhage in my right eye, nothing serious, everything went fine.

I am in understanding that people will be resurrected, if they were a mature adult, according to their prime. I assume I don't look at my appearance as corrupt genetics, more so, the genetics which have individually identified me and provide me with an identity. I don't think I will have brown eyes. I don't think I will have auburn hair like I do after the resurrection. I think our eyes will be as it is described in, I think in, Revelation describing the Lord's eyes. In the same tone, thus some of our appearances will be similar, overall, I think I will still have the same jaw line, eye bone structure, etc... This is what defines me as me, and individual within a whole. Will obesity be an issue in the after life, resurrection? No, I don't believe so. I feel sorry for women with augmentations, especially if they really upsized their appearance. In the resurrection I am thinking they will be very disappointed. In all our pictures, even temple, the only people who are shown as the same are Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Is this due to our natures, and that is all we can do, or is it truly a representation of what will be? I think my Mother and Father will still look like my Mother and Father, except they will be wrapped in eternal Celestial Glory.

The Traveler has actually explained in other posts why he use "G-d". It has very little to do with avoiding using his name, but actually a conversation he has with a friend, within a different nation, which is I believe he said against the law to use the whole word "God", thus he uses "G-d" in respect to his friend.

Great question Vort. My procedure would actually have been described as PRK. No blade touched my eye. This describes my procedure: I really never took thought about having implantables. I thought this was only for people with cataracts, but apparently it isn't. I believe my wife would actually need implantables.

I highly recommend it. Went from nearly blind to 20/15, with potential to get better from here. My wife is a little jealous... I tell her it is against the commandments to be jealous. She then calls me a "jerk." LOL

Oh no Seminary... I am not getting into another discussion with you, you like to call my comments "baloney". (just kidding) Yes. Yes. We already have doctrine specifying God and Jesus Christ are the same. I once read, that the only way we will know Heavenly Father from Jesus is by the Holy Ghost, or by principled intelligence. We are also told in scripture that Seth was in the exact image of his father Adam. We have identical twins in life, some almost nearly impossible to distinguish, unless something is changed on the outside. No. No. When we reach perfection, I assume we will all have similar traits, personality, and skills. Yes. Unless you were twins in this life, there is no reason in the next life for my wife and yourself to look alike, or take upon the same appearance. This in my opinion would be a loss of individuality, and a painful loss, at least to me. When resurrected I am not familiar with any doctrine which specifies we will take on a similar appearance as others. If we did, my next question would be, whose appearance would we take? Heavenly Fathers? Heavenly Mothers? Gabriel's? Michaels? Eve's? It doesn't. However, it would bug me if two people who look nothing alike in appearance here, by some change, we know nothing of currently, they are the same in appearance. I will only speak for appearance. It isn't bothersome if all are perfect. This is our main goal in life, perfection, for us through the Atonement. I would agree, I wouldn't consider this individuality. Yet, the idea presented in Abraham about Kolob presents either an eternal perspective of stars, or only a temporal perspective of stars. Where one star differs in glory from other stars. I find the interesting concept within scripture regarding stars, and stars glories. I know you. You know me. Distinguishable.

I would agree. I think this is part of the problem in relationships. We have drawn many lines we won't cross which are based upon a personal interpretation of what one considers truth, verses what actually is. I home taught a young man who served in Iraq. The unified efforts of his group of men were actually getting them all killed. It wasn't until he acted out, that he actually ended up saving 5 other soldiers. If he didn't act out, I may never have been his home teacher and he would have been one of the casualties. He received rewards for his act of bravery which saved 5 other soldiers lives. In perfection, like the Oneness of our Godhead, I don't think acting out individually will be necessary or profitable. Yet, I don't think their oneness denies the individuality between God and his Son. Yet, this does provide food for thought. This also gives rise to food for thought when I think about Christ's words when asked if they could see the Father, and he replied paraphrased, "Having seen me, you have seen him." Very interesting, and though provoking. This is a true statement. There is a video on youtube with a Chinese (I think Chinese) military is performing a really neat walk formation. It works because these young men are honoring the goal of the whole. Within the frame of reference we see movements of motion that are in unison. Yet within the frame we also see individuals who have chosen to accept the object of the whole. If one acts our of line, then it messes up the whole production for that walking formation. I, guess, for me I can't see the reality of loosing individuality because we are one. I don't think my wife and I will loose any individuality when we are officially one. The idea of male and female being important to our eternal purpose and identity already, at least to me, says we are still individuals.

I am more inclined to believe in some situations it is better to be right, while still making sure you are together. For example, a husband who has forsaken the church. He is also teaching the children to forsake the church. Is it better for the wife to allow such, and stay together, or is it better that she separates herself and her children from a potential of loosing all her children? With regard to personal interpretation, and personal values, I would agree whole heartily, it is better to stay together, than to be right, because the basis is personal interpretation. I think at times it is better to compromise personal values which are based upon personal interpretation, not necessarily grounded in truth. I often wonder if my wife's and mine arguments are a direct result of personal interpretations clashing, both of us feeling we are right, when in reality if we actually sought oneness (letting go of personal pride and personal knowledge) that we would eventually come to the same conclusion. The more we ***** our own individual truths (not necessarily eternal truths) the closer we become to actually being one. The difficulty I find in our marriage, is that we are both smart and both studied. However, as a result, we have often times come to better conclusions then we would have by ourselves.

Starting with the last question first, this would apply a whole new definition to the oneness of God the Father, God the son, and God the Holy Ghost, if being a Celestial being meant no individuality. I personally would think yes, it is possible to keep ones individuality even if we are one. I think this is similar to population in connection with individuals. Without an individual a city will have no population. Without individuals the family can no longer be a family. In order for a family to exist, individuals must be present. Yet, this is a physical presence and I think you are referencing more to a mental oneness. A mob mentality is the result of frenzied minds, verse sober minds. Typically in a mob mentality, there isn't oneness, but a leader which excites the mob, and then passion takes over. When a mob mentality is finished it leaves some individuals saying, "I would have never done what I did, but it was the moment, I couldn't control myself." I would think the oneness, in light of Zion (the pure in heart), this will lead to an individual strength toward the same goal. Sort of like how God has asked us to have an "eye single to his glory." I think in order to truly be one individuality must be intact, or as another commenter suggested, we become like the Borg, without a moral agency to act for ourselves, but are like drones in a beehive. Very intriguing question, my first thoughts which enter into my minds eye, is the 5 wise and 5 unwise virgins. Those who were prepared had not enough to give to the others. Yet, I think in a oneness of heart and mind, the people will care more about others, but will not be considered heroes, but simple moral people who care. I think, the more we glorify God the less we think about becoming a hero, or who is and who isn't. These are some of my first thoughts.

Thanks for sharing.

Excellent. Tithing definitely is an act of faith. It is also an act of hope, and charity. Faith is combined with our hope that God will honor his promise to us when we keep his commandments. Paying tithing is an act of charity, because we pay our tithing out of our love for God. I don't believe tithing is actually a result of sacrificing our "needs", as it is a sacrifice of wants. We pay tithing with the faith and hope that we will have sufficient for our needs, while doing our part to make sure we have sufficient for our needs. Word of advice, be cautious in what you define as a need. I believe you have misunderstood this doctrine, and as such it has caused you not to be a full-tithe payer. When we come to understand the doctrine, it is much easier to pay. I would read The Church didn't have the money it does now until the members actually started paying tithing. We contribute our 10%, as has already been shared, because we have faith, hope, and charity. Nothing more, nothing less. We contribute because we believe that God loves us and seeks our best interest. Imagine if every member of the Church decided to stop paying tithing because life is hard. This would result in about 90% of members not paying tithing. I understand how difficult it is to pay tithing. I have experienced the moments where a person thinks, "I can pay tithing, or I can pay my utilities bill. I recognize I can't pay both." Thus faith, hope and charity are tested. It is not until we obey do we realize the blessing comes. It may not be a boat, a new race car, a new house, but the blessing does come.