ElectofGod

Hmmm, I can't find it now. maybe it was a different talk. Meantime here is a few quotes Preparing for Exaltation: Teacher’s Manual Lesson 39: Be of Good Cheer and why not?

Shows the powers that are in the Government. When the government doesn't have to stay quiet anymore and no backlash you know society is numb. As Ether 8 says, "when you see these come upon you, awake to your awful situation"... For that is when you become destroyed. Next dispensation upon us? The building of Zion.

"cheerful" is an interesting way to think of it... Holland talks about how Christ Tells us to "be of good cheer" I have overcome the world. Saying don't you worry, be happy, I am about to go suffer, but be of good cheer. Go re-read the talk in last conference. Sometimes I wonder this too. I have felt pure happiness once for an entire day. Nothing that day could affect me. It was supernatural (purely the spirit). Nothing since has compared to it. I still wonder. I still worry that I can't overcome the world myself, through suffering and pain or by sacrificing my own life.

I agree partially with anndex but I think there is a separation (the elements - things acted upon, and the soul -created to act). Were we not also "obedient" in the pre-existence before ever having a body? there was no mind of the body. It did not exist. We were a spiritual body which communicates (is one with) the intelligence or the self awareness of self. We have some part of the intelligence or spiritual body that can be disobedient too. Than we get a body to which makes things worse. Though perhaps the body helps the spirit gain greater control (obedience, through enlargement). Perhaps our spirits are the same without the body or with, and it comes down to only receiving a body to defend off darkness (Joseph smith). I really don't know how ti works.

So here is a question I had during the plan of salvation lesson. Are we here to learn how to "subject" OUR body or here to learn to "use our spirits" to subject A body? Otherwards, do our expierences change the soul (which I know our souls are enlarged) or is the body which we will have through all eternity also be changed? Or do we just get a body that is made celestial because our spirits have changed to be able to endure the glory of a celestial glory, even a fulness thereof? Not to get off topic.

I have been thinking about this. I can come back and quote a few scriptures but for the moment The mind is our bodies mind, our hearts are our souls, the spirit. When our minds connect with the heart (soul) the flesh and soul become one. Thus our souls, if obedience is given to that spirit, is than in tune with the Holy Spirit or the mind of God. Our spirit communicates to the Holy Spirit or mind of God. Thus our minds can communicate to the heart or our spirits or the mind of God or Truth. Once we become purified this connection is not just temporary, or occasionally, or frequently but as the sacrament prayer states. ALWAYS. If you read the scriptures, the Lord will usually tell you in your Mind and Heart. Satan will only tell you in your mind (our bodies). Satan cannot know the intents of our hearts. Why is that? This is the first time I have had any opinion on this or stated it or even thought about it completely. So If anything is false feel free to let me know.

First its still possible to get the papers through in time (if they are almost turned in already) Took us about 2-3 weeks for a cancelation once it was in. Sometimes it takes months. It depends on the situation of the last marriage. They have tried to speed it up recent years. Man has no monopoly on the kingdom of God. The sealings still must be "ratified by teh holy spirit of promise" to make anything final in heaven. Thus all sealings here are temporary until ratified. So if you live up to the Everlasting Covenant of Marriage between you and your spouse your children will still be sealed to you through the ratification of the holy spirit of promise (if you receive it through your faithfulness)... Outwardly you may not be sealed to the family but the real sealings are sealed in heaven through that spirit... All who are worthy will be sealed in their proper place in the eternities. The blessings will still be present in your families life as if you did do so if you have done all you can for them at this time (as it seems you are). If you are sealed to your wife and she is sealed to your children you ARE sealed to your children. The purpose of the sealing power is to SEAL EVERYONE TOGETHER. Thus it does not matter as much of "which child was sealed to which parent" but that the connection is made to all of the human family. (Others may tell you different, but pray about this) This is How I look at it. Though it may not ease your frustrations. Remember how multiple wives were sealed to husbands? They did so, so they had a place in the eternal family. It did not matter as much who they are sealed to. The Lord can put them to the proper "husband" or "wife" in the eternities because the GIANT family is all sealed together as ONE.

Whenever I think of him I think of Joseph in Egypt... We are in the years of scarcity. The winds have been upon us but the storm is still about to hit us. May we be a wise virgin, For we will "all be left with the light within ourselves" with no prophet, no leader, to turn too. Only personal revelation. If we are worthy the Lords eagles (angels) will hover over us and guide us to safety. I cannot put my mind at ease with the cunning works of darkness around us. Oh I wish we had more time but fearful time for most is about over.

Another thought to add to this.

The Lord can reveal them.

What I find most often is things that are literal are too often taken spiritually (as symbolic) and things that are taken literal are often symbolic.... I say this to illustrate what you were saying... We usually have a first perception of things... Than we forget that most things actually have a literal AND a symbolic meaning. Both are important. The actualized (literal) component of the endowment is to walk back into the presence of God. Each layer (element on our path, baptism by water, baptism by fire, etc) symbolic of the walk literally and symbolically taken... Literally baptism represents being born again. Symboliclly it represents being born by the spirit again as others have stated. BUT the literal is just as real, we are born again at birth into this world. We were born "into spiritual bodies", than "tabernacles", "Resurrection", etc...

Here is an interesting quote to add to your thought...Not sure who is speaking but they are paraphrasing Heber C Kimbal or quoting him. I would encourage anyone to read the full quote. (Hope the citation is accurate or try googling for it)

Literally, The early brethern smoked and drank (got drunk)... They were allowed to, felt the spirit, though were "recommended" to not be intoxicated for spiritual events also if someone showed up to the temple intoxicated they were asked (ok kicked out) to go home until they were "sober"... It would not surprise me if it was acceptable again (to some degree) mainly talking about alcohol not tobacco which is nasty... (partly wishful thinking ) Anyways, I had somewhat similar dream... I saw a popular celebrity and I saw him with lots of money than I saw another person who sued him for this money for no reason... It occured to me that "this is what is wrong with society today". We are so fixiated on money, greed, getting what we want, worldly affairs, materialistic pursuits and items... It could be that perhaps its telling you 1) Be clean for the temple (others are disgracing the temple and it will be fixed soon?) 2) The world is full of filth and corrupting their bodies 3) Our bodies are a temple and should keep them pure like the temple is "a building" and should be kept pure .............. Have you prayed for an interpretation? We should askt he Lord in sincere prayer than seek/ponder for the answer... If he doesn't give you one than shut the dream up.

I have heard that there are people, who "The person choose to side with lucifer in the pre-existence but due to the atonement they still were not past forgiveness to receive his grace and mercy so they were still able to get a body"... Not sure how true but it wouldn't surprise me.

I was going to post a reply but semin* said it very well. Exactly... His joy IS his work and glory.... The immortality and ETERNAL LIFE of man... His children ARE HIS GLORY..... Would he have any poewr if his children did nothing? No.. One gets power through Honor (and all the other virtues)... If nobody honors him there is no work to do than there is no glory. As it says in abraham/moses... Satan wanted god's Honor, his power. Seminar* wrote: All that my father has was given to Christ, Christ takes Fathers throne and the Father is than exalted... Yet at this new point Christ still does NOT have ALL that the Father has... He is still Exalted higher than Christ. Because Christ will ALWAYS be his "Son". And that only pertains to the "worlds" under the Godhead: God, Christ, Holy Ghost.... Ahman, Son Ahman, Sons Ahman.

This is how I see it too. I have a strange feeling that for me, there was a list of things I wanted to improve on and I choose this time, place, circumstance, to some degree that would let me learn those things. Than its up to me to learn it. I didn't come here to be perfect just to learn a FEW select attributes. I am willing to bet MOST of the SMALL circumstances in our life are the REAL TRIALS/LESSONS. Just saying hello to someone that needs asmile. Not having a grudge to someone who offends you. Just being happy and ENJOY perfecting yourself. Don't fuss about not BECOMING but just "make it a game" of what can I do better today. This attiude will allow us to be more Christ like I feel because we are doing it because we want to versus its something we HAVE to or NEED to do to make it into heaven.

The only way to know is to test the waters. Go on a date. See if it turns out to be anything. 1) could get you to date them and learn something 2) could turn into marriage 3) just another relationship Somethings are "coincidences" some are not. I have found during the "seek ponder and pray" many of the answers get answered during the ponder stage before you even ask in prayer. So I never do. That is what God wants us to do to avoid excessive and pointless prayers. Not to say we shouldn't pray always but he doesn't want us praying over EVERY SINGLE question. Thus the pondering stage gets out quick answers than the important ones go to the asking stage. I don't really believe in coincidences though. Everything happens for a reason due to our agency it may come off as a coincidence.

Here are a few more thoughts I came across. Ok now some quotes on the OP... Oaks states this exact question in his talk, https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2000/10/the-challenge-to-become?lang=eng. He explains more than I just quoted below.

I was reading Act in Doctrine by Bednar last night. He has a chapter about Character. The definition stood out to me... 1) qualities of honesty, courage, or the like; integrity: 2)1. Character, individuality, personality refer to the sum of the characteristics possessed by a person. Character refers especially to moral qualities, ethical standards, principles, and the like: a man of sterling character... Here are some famous quotes about character

How does grace work? This is an area I lack knowledge in. I would think that this is talking about our giving us salvation through his grace. It covers our bad choices thus allowing us to enter into heaven. It does not however change us. I think the quote is referring to what we BECAME, versus grace is what We BECOME with the atonement applied. They are two concepts. If we don't BECOME ourselves anything it will do us no good even with his grace. If we improve ourselves than the grace will allow us to be in heaven even not being perfect. Still there will be this connection between what we ARE and anything else we are not yet will be covered by the atonement. Else we could not live in heaven being unclean. We will than work out our salvation "with fear and trembling beyond the veil" as Joseph Smith stated... I hope this make sense... Its probably not a traditional view in gospel principles.

I really like this thread. Interesting things to ponder. I will add to whats been said. The scriptures state the purpose of life is to "improve upon our estate" nothing else (be proved in all things also but only so we can improve upon it and know where we are at for ourselves on that path). If we improved we will succeed if we don't "how awful will be our state"... What if we don't improve? What if we were more evil than our life before? What if that "sum" of us causes us to become worse off than we were? I won't answer it only pose the question. Thats part of the test of life though, to improve. "more knowledge we gain through our obedience we will have the greater advantage in the world to come" (D&C 130/131?,paraphrase). Other-wards, the more we improve, the greater the sum, the better off we will be. Why? Again only pose the question for now. Last comment for now. End of this life. I call this life "eternity", Eternal life. We are in it now. "eternal life is to know the only true and living god". Why are we here? To know God. Thus the end of this life is this eternity. The end of our last life was when we came to this eternity (mortality-earth). Our sum of that life has caused the deviation of this life amongst all the people. Explains why some are more "righteous" than others. We increased in dominion and gain greater gifts in this life to improve upon. This is why we don't judge others. They are here to improve. We don't know who they were or what their potential is. If they reach it they pass the test of mortality. We must help them accept the atonement.

Charity is different than Love too. It involves love but there is more too it. Its the pure love of Christ. Though Love is a sealing force of heaven.

I just was about to.. Without charity you are nothing. Without Charity you cannot enter into the celestial kingdom Faith, Hope, And Charity is all one needs. The rest fall into place. Faith leads to Charity, Hope comes from living faith and gaining charity. Also Charity increases by gaining hope.... Than you will at some point gain a perfect faith.

Not sure how to directly answer your question but I entirely agree with this quote. Even now I feel like all I do is have these years of study yet I want to do something with it but don't know what and want to have days of service to help others yet I have a hard time finding opportunities. Slightly different scenario but the concept is the same. The youth learn from doing far better than just study. If you combine the two than you got a good church "program". Responsibility with money. Yard care for a widow or someone in need Anything involving Sacrifice. Show them how to use their years of study. Trek was a good thing for the youth. Also some church obstacle courses are fun. Thats all I got at the moment.

Amazing answers. They hit home what I have been pondering about (again this is how I know I am being led by teh spirit when it confirms scriptures I just read). The two are: Its interesting when I first became aware of the need to seek after these greater blessings I tried to do everything at once. I started to pray for dreams....Well I got 3. One of which was this exact scripture as underlined. The other scripture in 101: This section has had more influence on me the past few weeks. I studied 6 months ago and now it hit me again some "possible" insight. I have to explain the outline of the parable to show why before I say what that influence is. I was reading in Isaiah which I will quote later.. I will mention it because it fits. First the Lord tells us to do the following You have to be on the watch-tower yourself to be saved. Than are you considered part of Israel until than you are just a Gentile. We know prophets are the watch towers as well... Than we read on. Keep in mind he is talking about what Zion will be like. Zion, "the pure in heart", "The pure in heart SHALL see God" when its expedient of course. But than read what he says about those on the watch tower currently (parable)... So we have these watchmen who will make it to Zion and a few who were permitted to tarry. Isaiah tells us this same thing. I will add on the commentary by Avraham Gileadi. Not sure that is an accurate interpretation but its very interesting.