tesuji

Mr. and Mrs. Smith for the second time.
I forgot how fun this movie was. Maybe using Vidangel this time helped smooth off some sharp edges and allow me to enjoy it more.
In a similar genre, I finally started watching the old TV series Alias, first episode. JJ Abrams does a great job but often leaves me feeling over-stressed. 
If you haven't seen his show LOST, check it out. The story arc and main theme are mostly hidden until the end, so the second time through it all you see a lot more depth. I think I have discussed this before though

This is one of my favorite videos, so I thought I'd share it with anyone interested.
Transcript also available: http://publications.mi.byu.edu/fullscreen/?pub=2839&index=69
 
 
 
 
 

I ran across this on Facebook. How awesome would it be if our Mormon priesthood meetings were like this?
(I hope this Facebook link works for everyone)

 
 
(Beard trigger warning. This post contains beards.  )

I honor and sustain Joseph Smith and all the later Mormon prophets as true prophets of God. But we should worship God only.
 

It's nice to meet you.
I'm very sorry to hear about those terrible accidents. I admire you for carrying on and trusting God.

I honor and sustain Joseph Smith and all the later Mormon prophets as true prophets of God. But we should worship God only.
 

I honor and sustain Joseph Smith and all the later Mormon prophets as true prophets of God. But we should worship God only.
 

Sadly, this is in fact a dangerous thing to do... a pedestal of worship. If someone has elevated Joseph Smith to worshiping status they are often times "crushed" once they learn some historical fact about him that they didn't know previously. Rather than simply seeing him as an imperfect human, which he was, there is a tendency by some to go off the deep end and revolt against him entirely instead, doing a 180.
We learn about him, we study what he did for the restoration, we show the correct definition of "praise" to him and we are grateful for his contributions... but we don't worship him. 

I've never been so proud of my fellow Utahans for putting principles before party. And it almost feels like Romney is the only GOP leader willing to call a spade a spade.

Nausicaa of the valley of the wind. Love the story, movie etc. what a hero should be. So refreshing to have one that really goes out of her way to avoid using violence to solve conflict.

Hi I'm new to this forum. I hope to discuss current topics with like minded people who love the Lord and have a firm testimony of His atonement. My conversion started in my early 30's . In one year I ran over our 5 yr old daughter, 6 months later our son died choking on a toy, though this was a very painful year I had many spiritual experiences an choose to let the Lord teach me. I was richly rewarded with a testimony that so far has been unfailing. Looking back at my experiences, I have been through things that make that year easy to bare and with gratitude continue down the conversion path. I love the scriptures and combined with temple teachings love symbolism. Because of certain experiences I question philosophies of those who proclaim scientific evidence or "proof" of things. I am older, but the jury is still out on the wiser.  We live rural , have Belgian horses, annoying chickens and yes prepare for the coming of our Lord.

Yes! Let's tear down this idol:

What on earth would possibly make you think Americans worship George Washington?

* did George have a c-section giving birth to his nation?

I can only assume it's related to this Brigham Young quote:
To me it's akin to teachings from the Holy Bible and the Book of Mormon which indicate that the 12 called by Christ in Israel will assist in the final judgement of the Jews and that the the 12 called in the americas will assist in the judgement of the Nephites and Lamanites. Likewise Joseph Smith, according to Brigham Young, will assist in the judgement of those in this dispensation.

I songs songs to my mother.....to my wife.....to my kids.....do I worship them? No.
We honor Joseph.  We thank him.  We respect him.  We do not worship him.
 
 

Really?  By whom?  (Seriously, this is the first time I've heard this, and if it were common in the church, I think I'd have heard it.)  Now, what Lehi wrote about this is perfectly rational, but in 4 decades and 5 very different geographical locations of the church, I've never heard this taught.  I've heard of bishops judging, apostles judging, Christ judging, but no one specifically saying, "Joseph Smith as the one who holds the keys to this dispensation will be one of the people who judges us before we can gain entry into the Celestial Kingdom."  (NOTE: I'm not saying he won't.  It's perfectly rational that he would.  I'm saying I've never heard it explicitly taught or even obviously hinted at.  One would have had to draw the line from apostles to "the one who holds the keys of the dispensation" all on their own.)
And those who understand the truth know that however much Joseph Smith did, it was literally infinitely less than Jesus Christ did.  (Not to diminish what Joseph Smith did, but some perspective may help here.)
And for the record, while I have always had a strong, strong testimony of Joseph Smith as a prophet, I have never come anywhere near worshiping him.

Yeah, this is one of the enduring criticisms that really just doesn't have even the tiniest leg to stand on.  The thing was written right after Joseph's martyrdom, for pete's sake.  Ever been to a funeral where the deceased wasn't praised?  Is mormondom to be condemned for the sin of grieving over a lost great man?  For remembering the prophet who ushered in the last dispensation?  What sort of messed-up, cold-hearted critic would deny a song marking the passing of an important person?  
Yeah, do the folks advancing this criticism also have problems with MLK day and President's day?  Don't wanna get accused of worshipping George Washington, now do we!
See how easy it is to go on the attack when encountering this one?

as a whole no. but i wouldnt be surprised if there are people who stick him on such a pedestal.

And, this being true, the issue is why we "praise" him. It's the second half of the first sentence of the hymn: "… who communed with Jehovah, Jesus anointed that prophet and seer" then, "blessed to open the last dispensation".
This hymn doesn't show us worshiping Joseph Smith, it shows us "praising" him because of Jesus Christ and what He did, in this case, what He did through His prophet.
Lehi

Why do you ask?
Yes, as Doc&Cov 135 says, he has done more for the salvation of the world, Christ excepted, than any man who's lived on the planet: we see him as one of the most important persons to ever live on this earth. How that gets morphed by enemies of the Kingdom of God into our worshiping him is only a mystery if one doesn't understand how Satan works. He is the master of distortion, the king of twisting, and the deceiver par excellence.
It's not because of the Book of Mormon that we need his approval to enter the Kingdom, it's because he holds the keys under Peter (and he under Christ), and he (along with Twelve Apostles) will judge us prior to Peters' judging us (if that's the way you read the scriptures on the subject), and before we receive a final judgement from Jesus Himself. It's about keys, not books, it's about authority, not revelation. We're grateful for the revelation, we thank God for the books, but of all the things restored through Joseph Smith, it's the keys we are (or should be) more grateful for.
Lehi

For whoever was wanting to trip over an ancient Nephite sword as evidence, check out this article today.
This sword tip is heavily corroded - and apparently from 1836. I'm thinking based on this, in a few thousand years it will be completely gone. No?
The last Nephites died around 400 AD, so probably not any Nephite swords are going to be found lying on the ground.
Alamo dig: Archaeologists unearth tip of Mexican sword | Fox News
http://www.foxnews.com/science/2016/08/12/alamo-dig-archaeologists-unearth-tip-mexican-sword.html

Thank you. This seems like very sensible advice.

I loved Skyfall, in spite of all the things you mentioned, and in spite of Daniel Craig. I thought it had more emotional depth than other Bond movies. The villain was also deeper, and more icky-villainous -- these movies only work as well as their villains. I also love the theme song and the whole musical score.
And the part where Judi Dench reads Tennyson while the aging Bond is running to save the day was heroic. The poem fits Britain now better than when Tennyson wrote it. One of the most moving scenes I've seen in a movie:
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
 
 
The long final showdown was also well-done, I thought.

Elder Scott gave some great talks about this. 
How to Obtain Revelation and Inspiration for Your Personal ...

To Acquire Spiritual Guidance - Richard G. Scott

Using the Supernal Gift of Prayer - Richard G. Scott
You can find them here: https://www.lds.org/search?lang=eng&domains=general-conference&q=Richard+G.+Scott
In my experience, when I'm trying to make an important decision, I study, learn and think about it until I decide what seems best. Then I pray about it, and ask if my decision is right. I'm not very good at getting answers, not like my wife is. I usually don't hear an answer. But I pray anyway; at least I tried. If I feel like I get a prompting about a direction then of course I follow the prompting If not, I proceed to do the thing that I prayed about, that I think is best.

This actually has relevance to the current discussion.
If you read the BoM carefully, you will note that there are several places where the author re-states or repeats himself - exactly like you would do it you were writing on metal plates, and could not easily hit Backspace and edit like we can on our computers.
Critics like to focus on how we don't have the metal plates anymore. However, what we do have is the text itself. There are many internal evidences of authenticity. For example, listen to Nibley's Lectures on the Book or Mormon, or read his books such as Lehi in the Desert and the World of the Jaredites.
None of this will convince determined skeptics, or prove to them anything. However, there is evidence on the "true" side of the scale.

For whoever was wanting to trip over an ancient Nephite sword as evidence, check out this article today.
This sword tip is heavily corroded - and apparently from 1836. I'm thinking based on this, in a few thousand years it will be completely gone. No?
The last Nephites died around 400 AD, so probably not any Nephite swords are going to be found lying on the ground.
Alamo dig: Archaeologists unearth tip of Mexican sword | Fox News
http://www.foxnews.com/science/2016/08/12/alamo-dig-archaeologists-unearth-tip-mexican-sword.html