Pioneer47

There are only certain things you covenant not to discuss when you go through the temple. Nothing except those things are bound by that covenant.

Was one of the them appoint to the office of "Prophet". Perhaps the keys of the head of the church were diffused among the three of them and there was no ONE person that held all the keys. I don't know if that is doctrinal but it is just a thought I had.

I guess I'm going to have to disagree. I don't think that the Kansas City Missouri LDS (Mormon) Temple fulfilled this prophecy. Let's look closer at verse four: 4 Verily this is the word of the Lord, that the city New Jerusalem shall be built by the gathering of the saints, beginning at this place, even the place of the temple, which temple shall be reared in this generation. It says that the city of New Jerusalem shall be built by the gathering of the saints. It then goes on to say where the beginning of the gathering of the saints would take place. Where is that place? It is "this place." It is clearly a localized reference to whatever place Joseph was at when this revelation was given. Where was this revelation given? It was given in Kirtland, Ohio. It seems to me that "this place, even the place of the temple" is referring to the temple lot in Kirtland Ohio, not the temple lot in Jackson County. This verse then goes on to prophecy that, the temple which will be built upon the "this place", "shall be reared in this generation." The Kirtland temple was reared in the generation of those people. I think it is so sad that people look at this prophecy as failed because the New Jerusalem temple wasn't finished in the generation of those people. The reason I like my understanding of this is because it doesn't require any shoehorning of modern temples(no offense) nor redefining of the word "generation"(again no offense). It just requires us to use a little grammar and geography. I'm afraid that last paragraph may have sounded like I was talking down to others. That wasn't my intention.

I love this stuff. It's such a powerful testimony of the church continuing to go forth unto all the earth.

Great comments. I think on a physical level it is like what estradling75 said. A person willing to die or who has died for their beliefs adds more potency to their witness.

I think it's important to point our that "rais[ing] up seed unto [Lord]" doesn't have to mean having lots of children. It can also mean(and probably the most important meaning) raising your children to be righteous.

I think the biggest problem comes when we can't look beyond our cultural upbringing. It makes us feel icky because it runs contrary to our upbringing rather than being actually wrong.

Hello everyone. I found this forum after looking for gospel related topics. This page showed up in the search. This place seems fun and spiritual. I'm from Idaho. I'm also a return missionary of nine years. I also have a lovely wife and daughter. I hope to make some new friends here and have some intillectually stimulating conversation.