darrel

We have been counseled to "sup daily" from the scriptures. in the last three years, I have read the Book of Mormon five times, the Old Testament 1 time, the New Testament 2 times, the D&C 3 times, and the Pearl of Great Price 3 times. I have also read the Articles of Faith and Jesus The Christ in that time. My goal is to try to finish all standard works each year. I also try to supplement my reading with "Good Books" on doctrine and inspirational topics. If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.

I have not read it but it sounds interesting. Another book I like is The coming of the Lord by Gerald Lund. It also deals with prophesy and quotations regarding the events leading up to the Second Coming. It is an older book but is still in print as the information is timeless.

Welcome May. Sister Smith and I are in the Philippines serving a mission We are in Naic Cavite Luzon Philippines. What area do you live.

We would also know what we missed by not keeping the commandments so I guess it would also be "torment" without weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Damned! Progress stopped.

If you are too young to go on a FT mission then be the greatest member missionary ever. You can then share your missionary experiences and grow spiritually together.

President Hinkley gave a wonderful discourse on how to truly convert new members. This is in the May 1999 Ensign page 104 entitled "Find my lambs, Feed my sheep" Every home should have the book "Preach my Gospel" in it and members should be truly member missionaries. I would encourage all of you to read them. We too often put too high expectation on the full time missionaries for conversions. They set goals for baptisms and knock on doors to find contacts. This is the hard way and is very ineffective because there is little member involvement. A good Ward/Branch mission plan will set the baptism, activation, priesthood, tithing, temple goals. Then the missionaries can help the ward reach those goals. They beg for our help but we should be begging for their help. They are to Teach and Baptize the referrals we give them. The responsibility is the full time members are to make them "No more strngers and foreighners but fellow citizens with the saints". Full time Elders and Sisters are only in an area a short time but the members are there long enough for the full conversion to take place. The prophet is the prophet to the world. Bishop's flock is everyone within his ward boundry. We are to let our light shine that others may see our good works. This has been a missionary church from the beginning. Each member is a missionary.

I would think your boss would be delighted if you said to him " I saw you at church (last week etc) and want to tell you I am an inacive member but want to come back. Do you have any advice that will help me" The Lord will bless you and him to say and do the right thing.

30,000 christian denominations today, wow. It seems to me that the many churches today have their roots in another church which they branched off from. I have an old magazine article which shows a pedigree of many major religions with the branches tracing to the Great Scism. Do you think that number includes every corner and shopping center church started by someone whose family and friends are his congregation.

This is amazing to me. Thank you Faded. It seems as though the church ruled more as a political and dominating influence with the main goal of obtaining wealth. A far cry from the teachings of the Savior. I can see the Hand of the Lord these events and in starting to inspire early reformers to move away from the ultimate rule and dominance of the Catholic Church. I heard or read somewhere that early reformers, (I'm not sure which) said that the changes they were making were not the true doctrine and gospel as taught in the bible but only wanted to move the away from the rule of the church.

I find it very interesting that the various claims to the "Authority" to carry on Christ's Church do not follow the example of Christ. If we so strongly believe in the unchanging nature of God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son as taught in the scriptures, it appears that the changes that were made were not even close to the organization or pattern established by Christ himself. After the time of the "Great Scism", how long before there began to be protesters to the church?

And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. (Moroni 7:45). Charity is the pure love of Christ.

I wondered where the word Pope came from. We cannot find it in biblical references that I know of. We understand that the authority to pass on the Melchizdek Priesthood was lost with the death of the Apostles. How can the claims for authority by the "churches" after that be considered valad. Also is it true that much of the ritual of the churches was introduced as a carryover from pagan ritual.

You certinly have the agency to do what you think is best. I would be very cautious that whatever I did would not cause a young man to fall away. My own sons are not active because of this situation. The spirit of Love and direction of the Holy Ghost are most important weapons we need to approach these issues. This is why those with priesthood responsibility should be the ones to address it.

Home teaching:) Certainly priesthood bearers must be worthy (D&C 121:37). However we need to be careful not to set ourselves up to judge them. Others have said it is the Bishop, a judge in Israel, and the Lord who are to judge. So unless we have the direct responsibility in our stewardship to them, we must remember we too have sins and beams in our own eye and will be judged accordingly.

This is very interesting Faded. Thank you. My limited understanding of the major split with the Catholic of Rome and Orthodox Greek occured after about 1000 AD. Is that right?

Oops the first two maps did not open but the third one did.

Thank you Faded. I did not realize that the Armanian and Assyrian were "Christian" I understand that the constantine church was the "Church of state" for the Roman Empire. Were not the doctrine, organization and religious cerimonies established by the Nicean Council. Is this also where the many "scriptural" documents were dedided on to be included in the bible to be used to support the Nicean doctrine set forth?

Are there any references to or threads discussing the chronalogy and family tree of christian religions. We know they all started from the Constantine church that was decided by the Nicean council. Do we have the succession and branching from there.

My favorites are the american classics and antiques.

This is an OLD gearhead, oil in the veins, grease under the fingernails carbuff. Lots of cars and stories to tell.

Good comparison Faded. It reminds me of an old saying; "Some peoples minds are like concrete, all mixed up and settled". These scriptures discribe some of the conditions to be found in the last days. 2 Tim. 3: 7 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. • • • 2 Ne. 28: 4, 15 4 And they shall contend one with another; and their priests shall contend one with another, and they shall teach with their learning, and deny the Holy Ghost, which giveth utterance. • • • 15 O the wise, and the learned, and the rich, that are puffed up in the pride of their hearts, and all those who preach false doctrines, and all those who commit whoredoms, and pervert the right way of the Lord, wo, wo, wo be unto them, saith the Lord God Almighty, for they shall be thrust down to hell!

I wholeheartedly agree with Ramiumptum and Faded. I also believe that most christian denominations today are wrongly assuming that they are the Body of Christ just because they believe in Him and believe they are saved because they believe. The Body of Christ spoken of in the New Testiment is not just anyone who believes but more spacifically were those who had been baptized by authority for the remission of sin and had received the Holy Ghost by the Laying on of Hands by one who held the Melchizidek Priesthood and were thus numbered among the Church of Jesus Christ of Former-Day Saints. This qualified them to be considered The Body of Christ. It was to these Saints in the various branches of The Church that the Apostles and Prophets were teaching the doctrine of Salvation in the New Testiment. The "Saints" had the gift of the Holy Ghost to help them understand the teachings being presented. Anyone without that Gift and without ongoing revelation will not be sufficiently prepared to understand scripture. The conflicts today among most Christians is the result, and by the way is making the adversary very happy indeed. When Joseph Smith prayed to God to find out which church to join, he was told to join none of them for they were all wrong and were teaching for commandments the "doctrines of men having a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof". Traditional Christian doctrine, while containing some truth, will not bring anyone back to the Presence of God. The restoration of the lost truth was needed to accomplish that. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the way A loving Father in Heaven has prepared and which we must follow in order to return home to God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ.

Pardon me if I sound too bold in my comments but we as a church recognize truth wherever it is found. All churches have some truth. The full gospel concept mentioned by PrisonChaplin is true to the extent of their understanding and doctrine. We believe that to be God and Jesus Christ and even the Holy Ghost They have to be Eternal and Unchanging or the same yesterday today and forever. John 17:3 And this is life eternal that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. The point I would like to make is to truly know God and Jesus Christ requires prophetic revelation which is only given to Gods prophet on the earth. Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord God will do nothing except he reveal His secret unto his servent the Prophet. If our eternal life is on condition of our knowing God and Jesus than we must truly know them and fully understand and keep their commandments Because God loves all his children he has restored his TRUE GOSPEL to the earth. Matthew 17:11 And jesus answered and said unto them Elias shall truly come and restore all things. God has revealed his doctrine to ancient prophets from among his dispursed Israel. The Book Of Mormon is another witness of Jesus Christ and gives us plainly many truths which are not known or not understood in the Bible. We also believe that He has revealed to his modern Prophet the commandments and doctrine which we must follow as contained in the Doctrine and Covenants. We members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints have no apology for our religion, our teachings, or our claims to be the True Church of our Lord God Jesus Christ on the earth. This is my testimony that these things are true.

Hello Everyone. Just checking back in after an extended absence while serving a Senior Couple Mission in the Philippines Manila Mission. We(Sister Smith and Myself) are very greatful for the many blessings and opportunities we have while in the full time service of our Lord and Savior. We have both read the Book of Mormon many times and all the standard works Bible D&C and pearl of Great Price. We will really enjoy sharing the gospel message which we have been given greater light and understanding while serving. We will look forward to again sharing our thoughts and testimonies of the truths of the gospel with all who care to listen. We Know God lives and Jesus Christ is central to His Plan of eternal happiness and salvation. We give this testimony that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints which is restored to the earth to help each of us to know this is His true way to return to Him.