The Folk Prophet

Please don't listen to this advice.

Here's some other scriptures on the matter: Alma 3432 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God; yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors. 33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed. Alma 421 ...for ye do try to suppose that it is injustice that the sinner should be consigned to a state of misery. 10 Therefore, as they had become carnal, sensual, and devilish, by nature, this probationary state became a state for them to prepare; it became a preparatory state. 13 Therefore, according to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state, yea, this preparatory state; for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of justice. Now the work of justice could not be destroyed; if so, God would cease to be God. 22 But there is a law given, and a punishment affixed, and a repentance granted; which repentance, mercy claimeth; otherwise, justice claimeth the creature and executeth the law, and the law inflicteth the punishment; if not so, the works of justice would be destroyed, and God would cease to be God. 23 But God ceaseth not to be God, and mercy claimeth the penitent, and mercy cometh because of the atonement; and the atonement bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead; and the resurrection of the dead bringeth back men into the presence of God; and thus they are restored into his presence, to be judged according to their works, according to the law and justice 25 What, do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice? I say unto you, Nay; not one whit. If so, God would cease to be God. 28 If he has desired to do evil, and has not repented in his days, behold, evil shall be done unto him, according to the restoration of God. Alma 4110 Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness. 15 For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again, and be restored; therefore, the word restoration more fully condemneth the sinner, and justifieth him not at all. Alma 2017 But Ammon stood forth and said unto him: Behold, thou shalt not slay thy son; nevertheless, it were better that he should fall than thee, for behold, he has repented of his sins; but if thou shouldst fall at this time, in thine anger, thy soul could not be saved. Mosiah 2 33 For behold, there is a wo pronounced upon him who listeth to obey that spirit; for if he listeth to obey him, and remaineth and dieth in his sins, the same drinketh damnation to his own soul; for he receiveth for his wages an everlasting punishment, having transgressed the law of God contrary to his own knowledge. 38 Therefore if that man repenteth not, and remaineth and dieth an enemy to God, the demands of divine justice do awaken his immortal soul to a lively sense of his own guilt, which doth cause him to shrink from the presence of the Lord, and doth fill his breast with guilt, and pain, and anguish, which is like an unquenchable fire, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever. 39 And now I say unto you, that mercy hath no claim on that man; therefore his final doom is to endure a never-ending torment. 41 And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

This is irrelevant to the discussion. I don't know the answer. But it has nothing to do with whether God will universally leave souls in Hell who are begging for mercy and deliverance or not. The conditions of salvation are not the begging for it any way you cut it. Neither are the conditions of exaltation. We will be rewarded according to plain standards of obedience to God's laws and ordinances. If we choose to disregard these, then we cannot be saved*. Period. We will also merit other kingdoms of glory based on strict standards. Begging for something different on judgment day will not make any difference. * and just so we're clear, by "saved" I mean fully saved, as in Exaltation -- as these discussions often degrade into semantics around such things. I'd be interested to see a quote, scripture, or otherwise that says those in the Telestial kingdom will be happy.

What people "think" is irrelevant. Of course people "think" they'll find joy in sin. Alma 4:24

We've had this discussion before I think, and I don't mean to re-hash everything, but I think it behooves us to consider the varied meanings of the usage of the word "want" in this regard. I'm not so sure Alma agrees with you. Then your understanding is askew. Wickedness never was happiness.

Wait...what about eloquent and impatient?

Isn't that exactly the point of the Savior's Atonement?

Right. I'm just not sure that's an important distinction to make. Is there some inherent value that makes said "first-person" revelations more valid, more important, etc.? Probably not, right? So my thought is that your idea that we'd be getting more if we were more righteous and took the word of the Lord more seriously may not be entirely sequitur. Maybe though. Interesting thought either way.

So...are we to be the same? As representatives of Christ (which we all should be) are we also mean to be blunt, straightforward, to the point, etc.? Because I have found this gets you into trouble really quick, particularly in light of the "always be courteous" teaching (most recently from Oaks), wherein straightforward talk gets you accused of discourteously very quickly. Is there a conflict in these ideas?

I'd go with this too, except that the current prophet and apostles are quite politically correct where they can be within the scope of sticking to truth and right.

I'd go more with your first point. I don't think it's valid to say we haven't had revelations just because we haven't had them turned into new scripture. Off the top of my head...missionary age change, blacks and the priesthood, family home evening. I'm sure the list of new revelations would literally (and by "literally" I mean "figuratively") be endless.

What do you care if it's frowned upon to look into other churches or not? If the church isn't true then who cares what they frown upon. And if it is true then by looking into other churches you will certainly settle on the lds church if your enquiry is sincere and humble. Regardless, you'll never find truth by just "looking". You know exactly what you must do, and you clearly have not done it because if you had, you would have a burning conviction of the truth and nothing "weird" or otherwise uncomfortable you came up against in the church would throw you. Get a testimony! It's as simple as that. You know how. You have not made the effort required. Until you make that effort, you will find yourself consistently floundering about in the world, whatever organization you settle on. You've lived off other's light. You cannot! Get your own. As a point of interest, I can't say my first time through the temple was spiritual. I would dare say that may be common. It's overwhelming, confusing, and because it's entirely new, even a bit strange. That is the reality of facing something you've never done before. It can be awkward. There are many cultural things you do every day that you give no thought to whatsoever that other cultures in the world and time would find extremely strange. That doesn't make them wrong. We find things strange that are strange to us. Strange means outside of our experience. If all cats had five heads then a five headed cat would not be strange. I remember the first time as I entered the temple and saw someone walking along in their temple robes and I thought it was a chef from the cafeteria. It was new to me. I had no frame of reference to understand it beyond that. Having attended the temple thousands of times now, it is no longer strange. And it is, without a doubt, a highly spiritual place and I cherish my visits there.* It doesn't take long for the strangeness to wear off though. Humble yourself and go get a testimony. That's the best advice I or anyone else can give you. edit: * maybe this is just because I'm brainwashed though.

Nice. Very mature. I know you are but what am I... I know full well the meaning of "not knowledge" (which wouldn't have a definition as it is a phrase not a word). And there are plenty of people with degrees who do not have it. You're philosophy fails to take into account barely scraping by, cheating, soft teachers, interpersonal biases, and a variety of other variables that allow for accreditation without the so-called knowledge being in place. A degree is not knowledge. It should indicate knowledge, but it is an unreliable indicator. I'm not discussing this any more. You either can't understand or you too stubborn to accept when you're mistaken. Fine. Either way, I don't want to get into it any further. Think what you will.

Really? Teaching and learning (the ingraining of knowledge) is what you consider brainwashing? I cannot think of a way to respond to this that isn't mean...so I'll just drop it. But it is an offensive term. It's condescending and flippant concerning things that are highly personal and highly sacred to a great many people, including me.

D&C 63:58 "For this is a day of warning, and not a day of many words. For I, the Lord, am not to be mocked in the last days." What do we think it means that it is not a day of many words? How does that tie into it being a day of warning and that God will not be mocked? I thought there could be some interesting discussion around this.

^ this. And, frankly, if you're rubbing each other's ankles in an arousing way, it's still inappropriate even if you aren't using longer garments.

Not how I feel, but I love it anyway. Plus, the sentiment from my childhood. :)

May be true. Doesn't make it wrong though. Either the thing is askew or the soul's askew. But one's feelings on something doesn't change whether that thing is good or bad. Truth and right is not relative to how we feel about it.

Can we include secular music? It's still part of the family fun feeling of the season, right? :)

This is an extremely offensive thing to say on an lds forum. It's also ridiculous nonsense.

http://en.fairmormon.org/Mormonism_and_polygamy/Brigham_Young_said_that_the_only_men_who_become_gods_are_those_that_practice_polygamy

I'll give you three guesses what is wrong with starting the rest of your comment with this. That depends on what the one-off is. There's nothing wrong with purposefully seeking out the viewing of nudity? Um...which shampoo commercial was that? I'd like to...wait...nevermind.

I'm pretty sure I disagree. Not participating in the survey will make absolutely no difference whatsoever...just as participating in the survey will also make absolutely no difference whatsoever. Haters will hate...or so it goes...

Maybe you need to look up the meaning of the word "status".