M.P.S.

1 Peter Chapter 1 v.19 But with the precious ablood of Christ, as of a blamb without blemish and without spot: v.20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, If Christ didn't have free agency how could he appreciate such a thing? If he didn't understand it then how could he have sacraficed his life so that we could have it?

Sorry to get off topic...but I just wanted to throw in that the Church does not endorse the belief of predestination. It implies that a man is either damned or saved from the moment they are born. If that were so what would be the use of the atonement? Eldon R. Taylor said in the Dec. 1990 issue of the Ensign (p. 29): God, having a perfect knowledge, is able to determine the time of a person's death. He did not set it before that person was born. The Church does believe in forordination, which states that a person was called and chosen in the life before this world to do certain things. For example: Chirst was forordained to atone for our sins or Joseph Smith was forordained to restore the gospel. They still had the choice, or agency, to not do the things they were forordained to do. Thankfully they didn't. Many religions regard both forordination and predestination as the same thing...but they aren't. P.S. - That verse of Acts you refer to speak of our foredination to when we COME to this earth, not when we leave it. The word "bounds" in that scripture refers to our foreodination to our assignment in life and not the lenght of our life.

Um...not to say that this story isn't true (I've seen the link and it looks lagit), but I have been searching all of the Church's website looking for what the Brethren have said and I can't find anything. Any thoughts?

Yes they would be sheltered. Unfortunatly in the time I have now, I can find the reference that tells this. It may be in D&C 138 as it talk of the missionary system in the Spirit World but I don't know for sure. I do know that once you leave this mortal life Satan and his angels have no power over you.

Um...some of this may have already been said...but I didn't feel like reading the rest of the thread.That "sacrifice" would HORENDOUSLY infringe upon your children's free agency. Satan's plan in the pre-mortal exsistance was to take away our agency in this life. If you did that to your children you'd be no better than he. We are to love our children the way God showed his love for us: by letting us make our own mistakes and be given the CHOICE to return to Him. If I loved my girlfriend (assuming I had one ) but didn't want to risk breaking the law of chastity with her besause of that love would I go have my genitalia removed to ensure I couldn't do it (sorry if you find that graphic...)? NO! If you love your child you don't take away their choices you teach them, rear them, nurture them to making the right ones. That child in the pre-mortal life CHOSE to come to the world and put everything on the line to return to our Heavenly Father. To risk screwing up in order to recieve a greater glory. How dare anyone take that from them. So...it's not really a conundrum.

Um... if you're not trying to be anti then how come you're trying to refute what everyone is saying?

As a GUY lookin' for lovin' do you guys think that if I were to wear the bracelets I might get some action (above the waist, of course)?

Hey kids! So, I leave for the California San Bernardino mission in 2.5 weeks (which encompasses San Bernardino County... basically). Anyone here from the area? If so, what is the Church like there? What are the non-members like? Any other missionary advice would be awesome. THANKS! (P.S.- Any refference to previous posts I made that weren't so missionary-ish aren't appreciated... just FYI.)

Sometimes we sing "There is Sunshine in my Soul Today"... Which, personally, I think is a little fruity for a bunch of guys to be singing together.