HiJolly

Doing well. Just finished the week of Christmas concerts last week, work is not too taxing just now -- ahhh. So, I'm doing well. How are you? HiJolly

Welcome, PaPa!

Hate to say it, jayanna, but your opinion on what doctrine is contradicts what the Church says it is. Approaching Mormon Doctrine HiJolly

White and tower bells.

Welcome to the site! I'm SO dramatic! HJ

Thursday night (tonight or any Thursday) go to Temple Square and listen to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir rehearse. You get to hear the conductor yell and point heavenward incessantly while still hearing some really good music. And the Spirit is there in spades. 8:00pm. Go! HJ

Welcome to the site!

Best wishes! HJ

Welcome back, Maya! HiJolly

As I would understand it, the cross was used as a symbol in the early years of the LDS Church. We used it as any Protestant would, in our buildings and so on. Then it all changed. (get the book) HiJolly

Dude: Can the evidence be shared with other people or is it based on feeling? Good question, but a little ambiguous, IMO. If I have a vision (certainly subjective) can I "share with other people"? Well, yes, I can. I can tell the story and describe the effects. Is that what you meant? And yes, I would not only be sharing it, but it would also be based on my feelings I had, both in the time I experienced the vision, and afterward as I tried to explain the experience. HiJolly

So... If evidence is subjective rather than objective, it isn't real? Ooo, that's a slippery slope! Right. And, right. We believe God is bound by covenants, and does not do things by 'whim'. The Mormon God is a highly advanced 'man' and 'woman' who limits himself/herself to righteous action from their deified perspective. This goes a long way in helping to understand the problem of evil in the world. Yep. We have a cool revelation that says: Yes, I do. I have "experimented upon the word" and the evidence, while subjective, is conclusive. Alma 32:27* Yes. But many members are on auto-pilot and don't think about it. Sad. Yes, though it's not recommended that one talk about it openly. I believe there are many incorrect culturally inspired beliefs within the Church. For example, many believe that whatever a prophet or apostle says in a talk or magazine article, it's "truth" or even "doctrine". Our own scriptures don't agree and teach against this view, yet the culture has led us astray. <sigh> HiJolly

This is one of the first things the missionaries teach to people investigating the Church. They'd be happy to help you. Even though it is explicitly subjective? Neither am I. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the first principle of Mormonism. I believe, but I don't know. Ouch. He's the current prophet of the LDS Church. Yep. And coffee. We call it "Sacrament meeting", in Mormon-speak there is only one Sacrament (by that name), that being what protestants would call the Eucharist, or Catholics would call Communion. I have evidence that God exists, and yes, I obtained these by having a fundamental belief in the teachings (or, premises) of the Church. And then experimenting with the teachings, which lead on to obtain a personal witness of the truth claims of the Church. We believe that our 'premises' can be spiritually (ie, subjectively) proved as fact, if we follow the Gospel plan to receive evidences sufficient to claim the premises as 'truth'. It works for many, and not as well for some. Not everyone is that strong. My hat is off to you. No, though some LDS actually do think so. For example, most LDS believe that the global flood is literal. A few (including myself) do not. I read the Bible as Jewish literature. There is a lot of divine truth in it, but not all is. Maybe I'll go back and try to comment on your first post... HiJolly

Welcome! HJ

Welcome to the site. HJ

Yes it is! Welcome! HJ

Welcome! HJ

Welcome to the site. :-) HJ

Yep, I'll be there. It's going to be awesome (it always is). HiJolly

Our understanding of the flood (and many other things) is wrong. And that's just the beginning. I used to scoff at my parents when they told me not to study science and history at college -- they said I would lose my testimony. Well, I haven't exactly lost my testimony, but it's a lot different now from what it was, that's for sure. And if my parents knew the extent of that change, they'd say "I told you so!". (they are deceased) Probably because they were totally literalist believers. Ah, perspective. Happily, I still believe in Christ and in the Church. HiJolly

Welcome to the site! I agree with your opinion of the expectations of you should you return to Church, except perhaps if we're talking about lapsed Mormons - then it might be ok. So, which 'call' is stronger? HiJolly

Welcome to the site! HiJolly

Welcome to the site. HJ

Welcome to the site!

Welcome to the site!