tesuji

I say get a spider if you want. But personally they totally creep me out. They don't seem like they belong to this world. Maybe they were left behind by visiting aliens?

Just don't be like this...
 
 

The LDS take a similar approach to scripture. The Lord’s servants are “called by his ordination to proclaim the everlasting gospel, by the Spirit of the living God, from people to people, and from land to land, in the congregations of the wicked, in their synagogues, reasoning with and expounding all scriptures unto them. And, behold, and lo, this is an ensample unto all those who were ordained unto this priesthood, whose mission is appointed unto them to go forth—And this is the ensample unto them, that they shall speak as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost. And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation.” (D&C 68:1-4).

I think you meant for the word "not" to be in that statement (where I have inserted it).
The Book of Jasher has good stories like these (involving people from the Bible, but the story is either not in the Bible, or not as detailed, or slightly different) - including a version of that Abraham story.

As a Mormon who tends to lean left, and is therefore a maverick these days, I have always enjoyed the following pro-peace quote from President Kimball, from that article I just gave.
 

I am not sure that I understand that. 

Our scriptures are divided somewhat differently from yours or other Christians (if I understand correctly).  We divided them into three sections:
1) Torah (The Law).  Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
2) Nevi'im (The Prophets).  Joshua, Judges, I Samuel, II Samuel, I Kings, II Kings, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and The Twelve: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi.
3) Ketuvim (The Writings or Poetical Writings).  Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, Esther, Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, I Chronicles, and II Chronicles.

In the Midrash, yes.  We primarily try to lend our focus to the Parashat ha-Shavua (weekly readings from the Torah scrolls and that of the Nevi'im and Ketuvim (the prophetical and poetical writings).  I do, however, think there is great value to be found in the Midrash, although it is exegesis.  As long as we recognize that it is Midrashim, and not Tanakh.
Sometimes we read directly from the Midrashim, and sometimes it is related to us by the rabbi or cantor.
This raises another interesting point.  Many Christians with whom I have spoken about efforts to proselytize to Jews, have erroneously believed that it is difficult because many Jews lack a working knowledge of scripture.  In my experience, it isn't that at all.  The problem is in that many of us believe that the rabbinical teachings are on par with Torah.  In some cases the clarify to a point of superseding it.

Aish, at the risk of monopolizing this thread, I will also say that I love those extra-Biblical stories about Abraham and others. We Mormons stick to the scriptures and don't know these stories.
Where do you find these? In your Midrash, maybe? How about other places.

Too many worship at the altar of the NFL.
Lehi

It's a small but growing community. So they had the luxury of starting a while ago before all the growth happened. It would be harder in any established city. Unfortunately, you do get light leakage from "clueless" St. George nearby, which will only get worse as they keep building more there too.
They don't have many public street lights, for starters, and I'm sure people in larger cities would worry that would encourage crime.
For most other lights, outside house lights for example, it's just a matter of covering the top half you you don't get light shining up into the sky. It's not that hard, it just takes awareness and willingness. Most people don't think about light pollution, but it makes a big difference for people who enjoy the stars.

Yet even one of the astronauts sensed (as reported in another news source): “I had another feeling, that the Earth is like a vibrant, living thing,” Chinese astronaut said Yang Liu said, in one of the statements the authors included in the study. “I said to myself: this is the place we live, it’s really magical.” http://www.foxnews.com/science/2016/04/21/scientists-explain-astronauts-feeling-awe.html

"Scientists have analyzed the statements that astronauts have made when they see Earth from above, and landed on a common, powerful theme: a sense of awe and transcendence."
http://www.sciencenewsline.com/news/2016041915010037.html
I wonder if this is what Abraham and Moses felt!

http://publications.mi.byu.edu/fullscreen/?pub=1123&index=15

“Here is an interesting description from the Apocalypse of Abraham. Abraham is taken on a wonderful journey (just as much science fiction begins with the wonderful journey). The whole field of testamentary literature and testaments has seen many discoveries recently, and we learn that any prophet you can name, and any apostle, has a testament; and that testament always ends with a great trip, a guided tour through the universe. The prophet or apostle usually gets in a vessel of some sort, in which he travels around, inspecting things). Guided by an angel, Abraham passes with violent winds to heaven above the firmament. He sees an indescribably mighty light, and within the light there is a vast, seething fire; and within the fire is a great host of moving, changing forms—moving within each other—of mighty forms that exchange with each other and constantly change their forms, as they go and come and alter themselves. They seem to call out to each other, in strange, confused noises.” -- Apocalypse of Abraham 15:3-7, in OTP 1:696.

Or Joseph Smith:

“I looked upon the sun the glorious luminary of the earth and also the moon rolling in their magesty through the heavens and also the stars shining in their courses and the earth also upon which I stood and the beast of the field and the fowls of heaven and the fish of the waters and also man walking forth upon the face of the earth in magesty and in the strength of beauty whose power and intiligence in governing the things . . . are so exceding great and marvilous even in the likeness of him who created <them>.” -- Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, 5

I just noticed the following quote this morning, as I listened to Elder Eyring's recent conference talk:
 

Steve Noel, 
Thanks for sharing this. God is an awesome God indeed!

Yes, I agree. Mormons believe the required divine authority to be saved was lost because of apostasy during the dark ages. God re-established this priesthood authority through the modern prophet Joseph Smith. People who want to live with Jesus must be baptized and enter into other sacred covenants in the temple, or accept proxy temple work for the same.
Now, can Jesus visit the person? I believe yes. But they can't permanently be where Jesus is.
 

Hopefully one big enough to terrify any other employer that considers taking action against someone over their religious beliefs and practices outside the workplace.

It's good to be wisely cautious. But in general I think followers of Christ should speak the truth and let the chips fall where they may.
D&C 76: Only those who are valiant in their testimony will inherit the Celestial Kingdom.

It's good to be wisely cautious. But in general I think followers of Christ should speak the truth and let the chips fall where they may.
D&C 76: Only those who are valiant in their testimony will inherit the Celestial Kingdom.

It's good to be wisely cautious. But in general I think followers of Christ should speak the truth and let the chips fall where they may.
D&C 76: Only those who are valiant in their testimony will inherit the Celestial Kingdom.

I just noticed the following quote this morning, as I listened to Elder Eyring's recent conference talk:
 

I was pondering the teachings in Doctrine and Covenants and a certain verse on the 38th section just caught my attention:
"But behold, verily, verily, I say unto you that mine eyes are upon you. I am in your midst and ye cannot see me" (verse 7).
It has been on my mind since the day I noticed it (which was a couple of days ago).
What do you think of the meaning of this scripture? Should we take this verse literaly and assume our Savior is somehow physicaly among us or only spiritualy? If He is physicaly among us, what sources can confirm this and the type of work He could be doing here, since we have been given enough sources indicating His spiritual influence on us through the Holy Ghost. 
All I know, by now (or at least that I can recall) is this reference from the D&C Institue student's manual:
President Harold B. Lee said: “I have a session with the missionary groups as they go out, in the temple, where they are permitted to ask intimate questions that wouldn’t be proper to be discussed elsewhere. They sometimes ask, Could you tell us a certain place in the temple where the Savior has been seen? My answer is, ‘Keep in mind that this is the house of the Lord; this is the place that we try to keep as pure and holy and sacred as any building we have. This is the most likely place he would come when he comes on earth. Don’t ask for a certain place because he has walked these halls. How do you know but what he is here in your midst?” (In Conference Report, British Area Conference 1971, pp. 135–36; or Ensign, Nov. 1971, pp. 12–13.) .
Any thoughts to add?
Thanx to all
 
 

They aren't "Mormon" ceremonies.  They are God's... Mormons are simply the currently authorized source for them.
The question tries to point out a flaw or absurdity in our position but it simply shows a lack of knowledge.  God will make sure everyone has a chance to get the required ordinances of the Gospel.
Therefore a "righteous" person will have everything they need when the time comes...  And if they refuse... well if they refuse to do the things of God they don't really qualify as "righteous" do they?

Just by way of relationship to my point, do a search on that page for the word "ask" and it, I believe, clarifies my point. 

I found the answer to my question: