Anddenex

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  1. Like
    Anddenex reacted to Sunday21 in Why should babies take the sacrament?   
    The infants and toddlers do not need to take the sacrament. The little ones like to do so to be like Mommy and Daddy. People give their children the sacrament so that the children learn to honor the sacrament. If you have young children you do not need to give them the sacrament.
  2. Like
    Anddenex got a reaction from Sunday21 in Did the 3 Nephites choose poorly?   
    The statement and question are intriguing when you take a moment to think upon the work of the Lord, or the glory of the Lord, "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." We will live forever, longer than 2000 years (much longer), and the work we will be doing is exactly what the three disciples of the Lord chose to do. Obviously, I don't know their thoughts, but I imagine some of them might have been:
    1) Why wait in paradise when I can still live and perform the work we were all called to do.
    2) One of the reasons death is at times appealing is the knowledge that we will no longer suffer from headaches, sickness, aging, work to feed ourselves, finding jobs that we don't really like. On a mission, I thought it interesting how many missionaries wanted to extend their missions another month, and some wanted to extend their missions another year. A mission life is easy in comparison to the toll of work. They were free from sickness, aging, headaches (oh how jealous I am, if one thing that could be removed from my life it would be headaches), the toil for food, etc... So instead of waiting for final judgement, they decided to continue to work without any earthly ailments. Not a bad deal, I would say.
    3) Doctrine and Covenants 18: 14-16 - The joy of bringing souls to Christ, in this life, and they will have a quiver full of them, which they probably would have understood and been taught also.
    As for me, I wouldn't mind experiencing a similar translation that would allow me to just serve the Lord after I have fulfilled my mission on earth. I would be able to watch, and at times converse, with many, many grandchildren and experience both joy and sorrow I would assume. Imagine a 1000 years from now you hold your x20 grandchild as a baby, as you could, and they wouldn't even know, but you would know and you would bless God for the experience. In death, this would not be possible.
  3. Like
    Anddenex got a reaction from Sunday21 in Did the 3 Nephites choose poorly?   
    One would think with how often this has been answered (how often this question is repeated), and how easy the answer is to understand, that specific sites would finally update their records, sadly this is not the case and probably won't be the case. Even the Book of Mormon is clear regarding the Lord's decision in removing his beloved disciples (three Nephites) out from among the Nephites and Lamanites due to wickedness:
    Mormon 1:13, "But wickedness did prevail upon the face of the whole land, insomuch that the Lord did take away his beloved disciples, and the work of miracles and of healing did cease because of the iniquity of the people." (emphasis added)
    John the Beloved, Revelator, was exiled, and reason he was exiled is because they could not kill him; otherwise, his fate would have been the same as the other apostles. The logical conclusion, "they fail to distinguish between someone holding the priesthood, and someone being authorized to exercise the priesthood in forming the Church, conferring blessings, ordinations, and spiritual gifts." Couldn't have said it better myself. So, as not to create a tangent on this thread...I say no more. 
  4. Like
    Anddenex got a reaction from Just_A_Guy in Did the 3 Nephites choose poorly?   
    One would think with how often this has been answered (how often this question is repeated), and how easy the answer is to understand, that specific sites would finally update their records, sadly this is not the case and probably won't be the case. Even the Book of Mormon is clear regarding the Lord's decision in removing his beloved disciples (three Nephites) out from among the Nephites and Lamanites due to wickedness:
    Mormon 1:13, "But wickedness did prevail upon the face of the whole land, insomuch that the Lord did take away his beloved disciples, and the work of miracles and of healing did cease because of the iniquity of the people." (emphasis added)
    John the Beloved, Revelator, was exiled, and reason he was exiled is because they could not kill him; otherwise, his fate would have been the same as the other apostles. The logical conclusion, "they fail to distinguish between someone holding the priesthood, and someone being authorized to exercise the priesthood in forming the Church, conferring blessings, ordinations, and spiritual gifts." Couldn't have said it better myself. So, as not to create a tangent on this thread...I say no more. 
  5. Like
    Anddenex reacted to bytebear in To lead the best, most meaningful life, one must belong to the one, fundamentally true religion.   
    Just the fact that members of the church are the only ones with the gift of the Holy Ghost is enough to say "yes" to the question.  No other way to receive this gift.
  6. Like
    Anddenex reacted to prisonchaplain in To lead the best, most meaningful life, one must belong to the one, fundamentally true religion.   
    I'm very simple-minded on this one.  There is no good meaning to mortal life if one ends up in hell.  So, I'm guessing most in the traditional Christian communities, with our binary understanding of what comes next, would answer in the affirmative.  As a personal example, I work with some fantastic psychologists.  They have studied hard and well, and have earned for themselves vocations in which they help people journey through life, every day.  And yet, whenever questions of eternity and "higher powers" comes up, they will refer to my department.  There is great temporal meaning in what they do.  They demonstrate high levels of personal satisfaction and "self-actualization."  BUT ...  and this is the offense of our faith.  This is why people accuse us of being arrogant, selfish, condescending and judgmental.  AND, there really is no solution. 
  7. Like
    Anddenex reacted to Traveler in To lead the best, most meaningful life, one must belong to the one, fundamentally true religion.   
    Happiness comes from the quest to experiment with living the principles of the gospel as you discover them to validate them to be true – not so much in thinking you have found it and if necessary make what-ever excuses for it that you must.  This way when you discover new principles of truth – it not so hard to convince yourself to change to live accordingly new truths.  Jesus promises that those that seek and ask with sincere purpose will find him.  As I have observed life and those here in mortality – I am convinced that we do indeed find what we are looking for.
     
    The Traveler
  8. Like
    Anddenex reacted to MrShorty in "I don't have a testimony of the history of the church."   
    I came across this essay from former U of U history professor and LDS Church historian Davis Bitton. http://publications.mi.byu.edu/publications/review/16/2/S00017-5176ad2f5804e17Bitton.pdf
    The main thrust of the essay is that it is essential to have a testimony of the gospel of Jesus Christ, not a testimony of a historical narrative, and discussion of how those two concepts are different and interrelated.
    One key concept that has frequently crossed my mind is the idea stated on page 339 that, even if I (as a non-historian) cannot answer the problematic questions in church history, I know there are historians who have wresteled with them and retained their testimonies of the Gospel. Maybe that feels like "leaning on the arm of man", but I don't feel that it is necessary for me to become an expert in every possible branch of study. I frequently find that it is sufficient for me to know that others have wrestled and are wrestling with church history and finding their faith intact.
    The other key concept that I resonated with me was the importance of grounding my testimony in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When pressed, I will usually cite Helaman 5:12 as my favorite scripture, because of Helaman's teaching that we must build our foundation on Christ and none other. Church history is interesting, and it describes a story of how the restored Gospel came to man in these latter-days (complete with human foibles and frailties), but it is not the Gospel.
  9. Like
    Anddenex got a reaction from Backroads in Just going to leave this here...   
    The spreading of ignorance from the mayor is unfortunate. A person praying, even on the job, does not endorse any religion unless you only let Christians pray (which is against the constitution also). Not surprising ACLU's decision to support the Mayor.
  10. Like
    Anddenex got a reaction from zil in Did the 3 Nephites choose poorly?   
    The statement and question are intriguing when you take a moment to think upon the work of the Lord, or the glory of the Lord, "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." We will live forever, longer than 2000 years (much longer), and the work we will be doing is exactly what the three disciples of the Lord chose to do. Obviously, I don't know their thoughts, but I imagine some of them might have been:
    1) Why wait in paradise when I can still live and perform the work we were all called to do.
    2) One of the reasons death is at times appealing is the knowledge that we will no longer suffer from headaches, sickness, aging, work to feed ourselves, finding jobs that we don't really like. On a mission, I thought it interesting how many missionaries wanted to extend their missions another month, and some wanted to extend their missions another year. A mission life is easy in comparison to the toll of work. They were free from sickness, aging, headaches (oh how jealous I am, if one thing that could be removed from my life it would be headaches), the toil for food, etc... So instead of waiting for final judgement, they decided to continue to work without any earthly ailments. Not a bad deal, I would say.
    3) Doctrine and Covenants 18: 14-16 - The joy of bringing souls to Christ, in this life, and they will have a quiver full of them, which they probably would have understood and been taught also.
    As for me, I wouldn't mind experiencing a similar translation that would allow me to just serve the Lord after I have fulfilled my mission on earth. I would be able to watch, and at times converse, with many, many grandchildren and experience both joy and sorrow I would assume. Imagine a 1000 years from now you hold your x20 grandchild as a baby, as you could, and they wouldn't even know, but you would know and you would bless God for the experience. In death, this would not be possible.
  11. Like
    Anddenex reacted to mworley88 in Just going to leave this here...   
    The original post is a fake news story.  "abcnews.co.com" is a hoax site.  The firing never occurred, and the individuals named may not exist.
  12. Like
    Anddenex reacted to Just_A_Guy in Kidnapped Mormon shows up in North Korea?   
    I'm kind of surprised they went public with the information.  If the NorKos do indeed have this guy, then from what I hear of Kim Jong Un I would expect Sneddon to "disappear"--and not in a good way--if it looks like the Americans are getting too close to uncovering the truth.
  13. Like
    Anddenex reacted to Blackmarch in Kidnapped Mormon shows up in North Korea?   
    not going to hold my breath on this one. Hope the guy is ok whatever his circumstances are.
  14. Like
    Anddenex got a reaction from NeedleinA in Did the 3 Nephites choose poorly?   
    The statement and question are intriguing when you take a moment to think upon the work of the Lord, or the glory of the Lord, "to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man." We will live forever, longer than 2000 years (much longer), and the work we will be doing is exactly what the three disciples of the Lord chose to do. Obviously, I don't know their thoughts, but I imagine some of them might have been:
    1) Why wait in paradise when I can still live and perform the work we were all called to do.
    2) One of the reasons death is at times appealing is the knowledge that we will no longer suffer from headaches, sickness, aging, work to feed ourselves, finding jobs that we don't really like. On a mission, I thought it interesting how many missionaries wanted to extend their missions another month, and some wanted to extend their missions another year. A mission life is easy in comparison to the toll of work. They were free from sickness, aging, headaches (oh how jealous I am, if one thing that could be removed from my life it would be headaches), the toil for food, etc... So instead of waiting for final judgement, they decided to continue to work without any earthly ailments. Not a bad deal, I would say.
    3) Doctrine and Covenants 18: 14-16 - The joy of bringing souls to Christ, in this life, and they will have a quiver full of them, which they probably would have understood and been taught also.
    As for me, I wouldn't mind experiencing a similar translation that would allow me to just serve the Lord after I have fulfilled my mission on earth. I would be able to watch, and at times converse, with many, many grandchildren and experience both joy and sorrow I would assume. Imagine a 1000 years from now you hold your x20 grandchild as a baby, as you could, and they wouldn't even know, but you would know and you would bless God for the experience. In death, this would not be possible.
  15. Like
    Anddenex got a reaction from NeedleinA in Did the 3 Nephites choose poorly?   
    One would think with how often this has been answered (how often this question is repeated), and how easy the answer is to understand, that specific sites would finally update their records, sadly this is not the case and probably won't be the case. Even the Book of Mormon is clear regarding the Lord's decision in removing his beloved disciples (three Nephites) out from among the Nephites and Lamanites due to wickedness:
    Mormon 1:13, "But wickedness did prevail upon the face of the whole land, insomuch that the Lord did take away his beloved disciples, and the work of miracles and of healing did cease because of the iniquity of the people." (emphasis added)
    John the Beloved, Revelator, was exiled, and reason he was exiled is because they could not kill him; otherwise, his fate would have been the same as the other apostles. The logical conclusion, "they fail to distinguish between someone holding the priesthood, and someone being authorized to exercise the priesthood in forming the Church, conferring blessings, ordinations, and spiritual gifts." Couldn't have said it better myself. So, as not to create a tangent on this thread...I say no more. 
  16. Like
    Anddenex reacted to NeedleinA in Did the 3 Nephites choose poorly?   
    "It is argued by some that the LDS doctrine of the apostasy is incoherent, since the apostasy teaches that God's authority was lost. Critics then ask about John the Revelator, or the Three Nephites, and ask whether they had the priesthood. However, they fail to distinguish between someone holding the priesthood, and someone being authorized to exercise the priesthood in forming the Church, conferring blessings, ordinations, and spiritual gifts.
    The apostasy refers to a lack of the latter, not the former."
    Apostasy/Priesthood on earth during the apostasy
  17. Like
    Anddenex got a reaction from NeedleinA in Did the 3 Nephites choose poorly?   
    They remain in a state similar to a translated being. They don't age. They don't feel earthly pain, sickness, no need for earthly food, etc... Nothing suspicious, unless you already know who they are and you have been watching them the whole time. This earth is a big place. Think upon how many people die every day that we never meet. Live in one country. Live in another country. Live in another country, and so on, and by the time you get back to the first country those that you may have met, or revealed yourself too, have been dead for possible two or more generations. 
  18. Like
    Anddenex reacted to zil in Adult? Fun (Am I the only one who hasn't grown up?)   
    A few weeks ago, I re-discovered the Friend magazine (online).  It would appear I haven't grown up yet.  Here are (examples of) some fun bits (I've already worked through all the fun bits for all the 2016 issues):
    https://www.lds.org/friend/2016/09/funstuff-guess-who?lang=eng
    https://www.lds.org/friend/2016/09/funstuff-hidden-picture?lang=eng   (they have these in almost every issue)
    https://www.lds.org/children/activities?lang=eng
    ...I'm thinking about writing to tell them they need to update the "General Conference Activities" section - I finished those last conference and need new ones...
    (maybe I'll grow up next year....)
  19. Like
    Anddenex got a reaction from pam in Did the 3 Nephites choose poorly?   
    They remain in a state similar to a translated being. They don't age. They don't feel earthly pain, sickness, no need for earthly food, etc... Nothing suspicious, unless you already know who they are and you have been watching them the whole time. This earth is a big place. Think upon how many people die every day that we never meet. Live in one country. Live in another country. Live in another country, and so on, and by the time you get back to the first country those that you may have met, or revealed yourself too, have been dead for possible two or more generations. 
  20. Like
    Anddenex got a reaction from Sunday21 in The Lord's Time   
    Without your prayer, I don't believe this would have occurred, "He brushed it off and then was overcome with a feeling that if he did not come – something very bad would happen." Now, that is my faith and I believe it is exercised in truth.
    In the MTC one of our instructors shared this experience (Is this Mormon cultural true story that ended up being more than it was -- don't know), "Missionaries were out tracting. One missionary stops, turns to companion and say, 'We got to go now," and he took off running. The companion had no clue why and could barely keep up. After left turns and right turns the missionary stopped at an apartment complex. Walked straight up to the second story, knocked on a door and a lady answered with the missionary saying, "We are missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are here to answer your questions you just prayed about."
    After answering her questions, in tears, she said,"Before you knocked on the door, I was about to commit suicide. I was in my bathroom and I said a silent prayer. As I was about to cut my wrists, you knocked." What I didn't mention up above is the missionary was pounding on the door until someone answered.
    Again, this is possibly second, likely third person story sharing. Either way, God knew a prayer would be said. God reached the closest person who would listen. How often though are we in the same position as President Monson who felt impressed and didn't listen and find out later why that impression was received, "A persons prayer," but because we shrug it off as, "It was only a passing thought," we loose out and so does the receiver.
  21. Like
    Anddenex got a reaction from zil in The Lord's Time   
    Without your prayer, I don't believe this would have occurred, "He brushed it off and then was overcome with a feeling that if he did not come – something very bad would happen." Now, that is my faith and I believe it is exercised in truth.
    In the MTC one of our instructors shared this experience (Is this Mormon cultural true story that ended up being more than it was -- don't know), "Missionaries were out tracting. One missionary stops, turns to companion and say, 'We got to go now," and he took off running. The companion had no clue why and could barely keep up. After left turns and right turns the missionary stopped at an apartment complex. Walked straight up to the second story, knocked on a door and a lady answered with the missionary saying, "We are missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. We are here to answer your questions you just prayed about."
    After answering her questions, in tears, she said,"Before you knocked on the door, I was about to commit suicide. I was in my bathroom and I said a silent prayer. As I was about to cut my wrists, you knocked." What I didn't mention up above is the missionary was pounding on the door until someone answered.
    Again, this is possibly second, likely third person story sharing. Either way, God knew a prayer would be said. God reached the closest person who would listen. How often though are we in the same position as President Monson who felt impressed and didn't listen and find out later why that impression was received, "A persons prayer," but because we shrug it off as, "It was only a passing thought," we loose out and so does the receiver.
  22. Like
    Anddenex reacted to Traveler in The Lord's Time   
    I have difficulty with the idea that prayers should be useful in counseling our Father in Heaven how he can better run this universe or influence the lives of others.  At the same time I believe we should pray for help and needful things.  A quick story.
    As a teenager serving in the army I was somewhat idealistic about my own importance – especially concerning religious things.  It was summer in Louisiana (weeks of over 100 degrees and 98% humidity – even at night).  To qualify at a rifle range we marched some 6 miles in combat gear to the range for the day.  I had filled my canteen with ice and water that was gone by 10 am.  I thought they would provide us with more water.  There was no water.  I began to think that if I could last until lunch there would be water to drink with lunch.  The previous week we lost a fellow (he died) of heat exhaustion. 
    Lunch was late by a couple of hours.  By time we broke for lunch I as severely dehydrated and I could sense it. But lunch would save me.  I went through the chow line and got my food in my mess kit looking forward to a drink – The drink they were providing with lunch was ice tea.  What was a Mormon boy to do?  I was not going to drink the ice tea.  I tried to eat my food – did okay with the salad because of the water content – but I could not generate enough saliva to eat my sandwich. 
    In light of the death many were concerned that I would not drink the tea and began to ask questions to which I answered it was against my religion.  After the questions, came the ridicule – accusations of being stupid about a stupid religion.  And then I was reported to the commanding officer.  He was upset and had a bad vocabulary as it was – I was learning words I could not believe existed.  I said a silent prayer in my heart – thinking the words that if I was going to live this commandment that I needed help and pleading with G-d to come to my aid.  My entire chain of command that was present was confronting me – rather unkindly.  And then something happened.  Some old guy showed up with what we called on the base – a roach coach.  This is a food truck that served food and beverages.  I was able to purchase lemonade.
    I overheard a conversation my first sergeant with the roach coach driver.  In over 20 years driving the roach coach on the base – he had never been to the rifle range but that day he had a feeling he should come out.  He brushed it off and then was overcome with a feeling that if he did not come – something very bad would happen.  
    Everything changed after that for me at basic training – from the stupid unlucky Mormon kid to the lucky kid G-d was watching over and before basic training was over a small number of my fellows were baptized.  I have pondered many times since about that incident and wondered if the outcome would have been the same without my silent prayer for help – things had to have been in motion long before my prayer was uttered in thoughts.  Obviously there is no way to know – but my impressions have been that without my prayer things would have been different.
     
    The Traveler
  23. Like
    Anddenex reacted to zil in Are you good staying humble?   
    Well, everyone has a chance at godhood, so I'd say none of us is any better than any other in that respect.  Look who Christ associated with and who he called hypocrites - that ought to tell you something.
    Live long enough, and you will probably see or hear of someone you thought of as "rock solid" fall from a great height - so how far you've already gotten seems irrelevant.
    Try this: http://publications.mi.byu.edu/fullscreen/?pub=1114&index=6 and pay attention when you get to this line: "We are all beggars equally—100 percent is as far as you can go."  The preceding paragraphs ought to do the job.  Or how about this from Chapter 3:
    That's enough to make me feel desperately in need of a Savior.
    Alternately, there's that place where King Benjamin says we're no better than dirt:
    That's kinda humbling.  When was the last time you saw dust doing anything other than fulfilling the measure of its creation?  And when was the last time you (or I) did something less than filling the measure of our creation?
  24. Like
    Anddenex got a reaction from Blackmarch in The Lord's Time   
    This appears to be a statement of truth. We indeed do miss out on blessings because we limit what God can do, and when he is willing to do it. This reminds me of two examples from General Conference. The first example highlights the principle shared, a missed opportunity if God's power was limited. The second, there are limits and I think the hard part is knowing where they are, or should we even be concerned? I do not know.
    Example #1: The farmer, his son, and a calf. I don't remember the whole story, in a nutshell, the calf was born dead. The son prayed the calf would survive. The farmer (Dad) thought this would be one of those teaching lessons about how not every prayer is answered. The calf survived and the father who thought he was going to teach his son, was actually taught by his son.
    Example #2: A father and his son. The GA shared how he heard his son tell a friend, "My dad holds the priesthood and can move mountains. Dad, show my friend, see that mountain, move it." I don't think any amount of prayer, per circumstance would have granted the father a similar experience as the Brother of Jared, but we do know these things have occurred.
    I have often wondered how many times I have missed a spiritual reservoir for my children because I have simply not asked. This is one truth, I wish I knew the limits and when to ask, but that would then remove my faith...dang it. These catch 22s are no fun at times.
  25. Like
    Anddenex reacted to Sunday21 in Reading scriptures for the tired and confused   
    I have finally come up with a scripture reading system that works for me. Read Book of Mormon morning and evening for about 15 minutes. Read the 24 hour Book of Mormon first so I know what is going on. If I am really tired read the same chapters over again morning and evening. Progress is slow but at least I am reading scriptures. I listen to podcasts on the lesson by the interpreter foundation on Sunday's. If I find the material boring or confusing, I go to the website'step by step through the book of Mormon'. I bought a timeline for the Book of Mormon on Amazon. Very helpful! Lots of people have the same name and there are flashbacks! If I don't know who someone is, wikipedia! My solution! And if I am really tired there is an app, gospel library that has an audio function. Wish I had figured this out years ago!