askandanswer

Hello @Maytoday welcome to the forum. We could do with a few more non Latter-Day Saints here, its good to have a diversity of opinions. I'm not sure what you mean by proven to be true, and I suspect that what constitutes proof will vary widely. Every day in courts of law across the world judges and jurors will listen to exactly the same evidence/information and come to different conclusions as to whether a particular fact has or has not been proven. For me, the only things that have been proven and that I can know for sure are my own existence and those things which have been confirmed personally and directly to me by the Holy Ghost. Everything else, absolutely everything else, including the theories of gravity and relativity and the idea that the sky often appears to be blue during the daytime when there are no clouds around, is usually a good working hypothesis but definitely not something I or anybody else knows.

I suspect that my first day, and your first day, and your son's first day were all the same day 3 And I, God, said: Let there be alight; and there was light. 4 And I, God, saw the light; and that light was agood. And I, God, divided the blight from the darkness. 5 And I, God, called the light Day; and the darkness, I called Night; and this I did by the aword of my power, and it was done as I bspake; and the evening and the morning were the first cday.

This seems to have some similarities with 1 Nephi 8. It might be worth re-reading that chapter and then pondering on if/how it might aid in interpreting/understanding your dream.

Like @Carborendum, I have no social media accounts apart from here at thirdhour and this site is where I make my largest digital footprint. I find it odd that you are asking us to form an opinion on the basis of half a dozen media posts made over a period of two or three years, the most recent of which was more than 6 years ago. Surely a well-informed opinion would be based on an objective and even-handed analysis of all of his social media posts. Even that would be a totally inadequate basis on which to form a reliable opinion as it would only cover one aspect of his life.

Like you, I was surprised to note that he worked for Phillip Morris. I guess that if there is any truth in the idea of karma, we would have to balance his work at Phillip Morris against his employment as the Managing Director of Public Affairs for the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a U.S. Government development assistance agency, where he worked within both Republican and Democratic administration leadership to administer $7 billion in poverty reduction grants in 40 partner countries. Maybe his contribution to ending lives is less than his contribution to saving lives. Who knows?

To modify a saying in the legal profession = there is no such thing as a natural disaster, there are only new investment opportunities. This looks like the ideal time to invest in crop companies that operate outside the infected areas.

What a disaster! Its so sad that it takes years of work, high personal risk and lots of dollars to overcome injustice. Here in Australia. we're developing a good history of class actions being effectively used by large combinations of little people to successfully hold large and powerful organisations to account. The scary thing is that in the early/middle parts of last year, a number of politicians began talking about the evils of class actions and how there needed to be new legislation controlling/limiting the conditions under which a class action could be run. I haven't heard much more since then, but I find it worrying that politicians who are supposed to be the people's representatives have been talking about finding ways to limit one of the very few means that people have to have their voices effectively heard and to lessen the power imbalance.

I can envisage a scenario where mortality was the default outcome for all who did not choose Lucifer. Perhaps an active choice for God was not needed for an opportunity in mortality, maybe the only requirement was to not choose Lucifer. This approach would be consistent with a merciful and loving God who wanted the best for His children, and might not violate the laws of justice. I've sometimes thought that if there were fence sitters back then, they might be those in mortality who live in a time and place and regime where organised religion is not allowed. They didn't choose "religion" back then so they don't have it now. Purely speculative.

They were passing through on their way from a bar of lead to a speck of gold.

I’ve just done a brief fact check on this and am happy to report the following: 6:55:10 seconds – 100,000,000,002 neutrinos through left thumb 6:55:12 seconds 99,999,999,981 neutrinos through right thumb 6:55:14 seconds 100,000,000,104 neutrinos through tip of nose 6:55:16 seconds 100,000,000,046 neutrinos through left middle toenail The theory seems to be substantially correct.

Update He was baptised about an hour ago. I assisted with his confirmation. A new journey begins.

Along with several others on this forum I recently re-read the thread you wrote, I think back in 2016, for Sunday21 explaining/summarising the Book of Mormon. I also noted the great many highly appreciative comments of your work.

I Corinthians 13:12 For now we see through a aglass, bdarkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

This is a possibility I thought about, and when thinking about it further, I started to wonder1 if the manner in which angelic assignments are assigned and delivered opens up the possibility of gaining insights into how the Priesthood is jointly held and exercised by a couple after this life. The idea that the Priesthood is something that will be jointly held between a couple after this life is something that we occasionally hear about but apart from this observation about the giving and doing of angelic assignments, I can't think of many other ways in which we can see how the Priesthood might be used and shared between couples. 1. I first wrote wander and then I stopped and checked my messages.

My scripture reading this morning led me to think about angels and I realised that I couldn't think of any female angels in the scriptures. Are there any female angels referred to in the scriptures that I have forgotten about? If there aren't any, or if there is only a very small percentage of female angels compared to male angels, what are some conclusions that the absence of female angels might provide support for? For example, perhaps just one possible conclusion that this might provide some support for is the possibility that God has a preference for using males when it comes to sending angels. I suspect there may be other conclusions in addition to this. And I'm not looking for definitive proof, I'm just looking for possible conclusions that this particular set of facts - a preponderance of male angels over female angels being sent from God on divine missions - might support. I realize that there are many angelic visits not recorded in the scriptures, but I think that category of angelic visits is a separate question.

ps If you scroll down from the homepage you will see on the advice board that @Carborendum likes BICs so much he is thinking of adopting one as a child

As much as I dislike writing by hand, if writing by hand somehow becomes unavoidable, I would have to say that a bic pen is the least bad way to write.

I've started on the Old Testament. Given how long it is, I'm going to need as much time in just reading as I took to read, ponder and write about the Book of Mormon. I'll be looking carefully to see if there are any changes since the last time I read it.

Moroni has made this point several times. Moroni 10:1 Now I, Moroni, write somewhat as seemeth me good; and I write unto my brethren, the Lamanites; Its interesting that they dated their calendar from the sign of the coming of Christ and not His actual coming. Moroni 10:1 I would that they should know that more than four hundred and twenty years have passed away since the sign was given of the coming of Christ. This puzzles me and I've commented on it before - the deliberate sealing and concealing of the word of God by a servant of God. Moroni, who had most of his life preaching and spreading the word of God ends his life by concealing it. Its a little unclear what he meant by "these" records. Is he talking only about the gold plates on which the Book of Mormon was engrave or is he talking about all the records of which he had custody? Moroni 10:2 And I seal up these records, I bear my testimony that what Moroni has said here is true. I have applied this promise in my life and as a missionary I have taught it to many others and seen them apply it in their lives. As I live, it is true. When a person approaches the Book of Mormon with faith, sincerity and real intent, and earnestly studies and ponders and prays about it, and if they are living their lives in such a way that God is willing to give, and they are willing to receive, an answer to prayer, then they will come to know the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. The answer to the question of whether or not this book is what it claims to be often comes in different ways. For some it comes as a quiet sense of peace and assurance and a sense of "rightness." For others it comes almost as a bright burning light. For others it might be a sense of enjoyment and enlightenment and feeling uplifted when reading and thinking about the Book of Mormon. This sort of answer will never come to those who read with the intent of attacking or critiquing, or tearing it down. For them, the Book of Mormon will always be unexplainable, something to be feared and opposed. When that answer comes, three things are of greatest importance: first, the ability to recognise that answer, second, a willingness to accept it and not be as those in 3rd Nephi chapter 1 who hardened their heart and rejected the sign that was given, or found ways to explain it away, and third, to act on that answer by further investigating the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as the source and custodian of the Book of Mormon. This book was designed and intended by God to play a major role in the gathering of His children. At some point, as part of everybody's judgement, each of us will be required to give an accounting of how we have responded to this book. It is one of the main tools that God has prepared to help bring His children back to Him through His gospel. The Book of Mormon is one of those major forks that God has placed in the road to provide us with the opportunity to demonstrate to Him where we stand by deciding which fork we will choose. Our decision on whether we accept or reject this book, and how we respond to, it will literally be a turning point in determining our eternal destiny. The answer will come but that alone is not enough. We must then be willing and able to recognise, accept and act on the answer. A lot is at stake. And God is true to His word. He has made a promise here and He will keep His promise if we abide by all of its terms. The most important of these terms are faith, sincerity, and humility, and a real intent to receive whatever answer God may give, and to change our lives in response to that answer. I've seen this happen many times and I know that it works. I share this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. This is for your @Jamie123You have some decisions to make. Before making those decisions I strongly recommend that you watch an address by former President of the Church, Ezra Taft Benson given in the April 1975 General Conference before he became the Prophet. You have taken the time to listen and watch critics of the Book of Mormon. Here is an excellent opportunity to listen to one of its most powerful supporters. The distinguishing characteristic of President Bensons' tenure as church President was his very strong emphasis on the Book of Mormon. In this address he talks plainly and with power and clarity. After reading the book the way you have over the last few months, and thought about it, and listened to and pondered about this talk, it will be much harder to stay on neutral groud. https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/general-conference/1975/04/the-book-of-mormon-is-the-word-of-god?lang=eng Moroni 10:3–5 Behold, I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them, that ye would remember how merciful the Lord hath been unto the children of men, from the creation of Adam even down until the time that ye shall receive these things, and ponder it in your hearts. 4 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost. And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.

Indeed there is. Its been too long since I read the Old Testament. My goal is to read it all in 2024 Deuteronomy 28:53 t53 And thou shalt aeat the fruit of thine own body, the bflesh of thy sons and of thy daughters, which the Lord thy God hath given thee, in the siege, and in the cstraitness, wherewith thine enemies shall distress thee:

I wander by whom and how this letter was delivered. I guess that in the circumstances in which Mormon was living and fighting it was entirely possible that he was alive at the time he wrote the letter but dead by the time Moroni read it. Moroni 9:1 My beloved son, I write unto you again that ye may know that I am yet alive; These names seem to be substantially different from anything else we have come across in the Book of Mormon. Moroni 9:2 Archeantus has fallen by the sword, and also Luram and Emron Maybe I have nothing to fear from the day of judgement - I can just blame it all on Satan. Such a relief to know Moroni 9:3 And now behold, my son, I fear lest the Lamanites shall destroy this people; for they do not repent, and Satan stirreth them up continually to anger one with another Mormon was quite remarkable - a military and a religious leader and devoted father, providing strong but unsuccessful leadership to two important but lost causes. I really think its his statues that should be on top of the temples rather than Moroni's. Moroni just wrapped up the details of his father's work. Moroni 9:4 Behold, I am laboring with them continually; This is not how Mormon described the people in Mormon 6:7-8 And it came to pass that my people, with their wives and their children, did now behold the armies of the Lamanites marching towards them; and with that awful fear of death which fills the breasts of all the wicked, did they await to receive them. Perhaps the difference in the level of fear is related to proximity to death. In Mormon 6:7-8 the people know they are very close to death. Moroni 9:5 For so exceedingly do they anger that it seemeth me that they have no fear of death; The world today would be a much more populous place if there weren't so many people who had been killed for revenge. It is such a worthless and base motivation. But then, I'm not sure how different revenge is from vengeance, and many of God's doings are said to be motivated by vengeance. Moroni 9:5 and they thirst after blood and revenge continually. Notwithstanding the difficulty of the cause and his lack of success, Mormon continued to work for what he believed in. Moroni 9:6 And now, my beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; It would be disappointing and concerning and surprising if avoidance of condemnation was Mormon's primary motivation. And if it wasn't his primary motivation, but he simply referred to this particular motivation because he thought it is the motivation that would have the most impact on his readers, that is also interesting. Moroni 9:6 let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; This is something that nobody will be able to do and will never happen until the return of Christ. Nevertheless, the battle must be constant and ongoing. We will all enjoy small victories from time to time but Satan will never be fully vanquished by anybody except Christ. Moroni 9:6 for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, Despite the breakdown in civil society and the descent into widespread warfare, there seems to have been ways for military leaders to know where each other was and to communicate between themselves. Moroni 9:7 For according to the knowledge which I have received from Amoron, This is the first I remember reading about cannibalism in any of the scriptures. Moroni 9:8 and they feed the women upon the flesh of their husbands, and the children upon the flesh of their fathers; and no water, save a little, do they give unto them.

Given Mormon's description of the state of the people in Mormon, I'm curious about just how many peaceable followers of Christ there were at this time. In Mormon, Mormon gave the impression that everyone was wicked. Moroni 7:3 Wherefore, I would speak unto you that are of the church, that are the peaceable followers of Christ, How many Nephites were walking peaceably with the children of men at this time? Moroni 7:4 And now my brethren, I judge these things of you because of your peaceable walk with the children of men. 've never understood this and the next few verses. It seems to contrast with verses such as Matthew 7:22. A person can do good works for bad purposes. Does the fact that they did good works then make them a good person? Intent counts for a lot. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not aprophesied in thy name? and in thy bname have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? Moroni 7:5 For I remember the word of God which saith by their works ye shall know them; for if their works be good, then they are good also. Portions of this, and related verses, seem to have some similarities with nonsense. It is an almost universal trait of people to alternate, sometimes quite quickly, between states of good and evil and sometimes they can be in two states of mind at once. Is a man who pays 100% tithing and fully lives the word of wisdom but who spends hours looking at online porn good or evil? And if he spends Saturday night looking at porn and then gives a gift of tithing on Sunday morning, is that gift accepted? The same person can be good on Monday and evil on Tuesday and good again on Wednesday and evil again on Thursday. There are also teachings, particularly in Mosiah, that the natural man is an enemy to God. How can an enemy to God do good things? Mormon seems to be painting a picture of people as being wholly good or wholly evil, which is completely untrue. Evil people do good things and good people do evil things all the time. In the previous verse, Mormon highlights the importance of works, saying that if their works are good, then they are good also, but in this verse he highlights the importance of intent, suggesting that unless the works were done with real intent, it profiteth him nothing. Its not easy to see how both verses could be correct. Moroni 7:6 For behold, God hath said a man being evil cannot do that which is good; for if he offereth a gift, or prayeth unto God, except he shall do it with real intent it profiteth him nothing. This verse, and the surrounding verses, should be read in conjunction with Matthew 5: 23 - 24, 6:2, Matthew 7:11, Matthew 10:42, and Acts 8: 18 - 24 Moroni 7:7 For behold, it is not counted unto him for righteousness. ee Acts 5: 1- 5 I'm uncertain as to whether the inherent goodness involved in giving a gift is entirely overcome, or completely nullfied, by any lack of purity motivating the giving of a gift. I'm thinking of the foreign aid programs of many governments that are typically motivated by a variety of benevolent and self-interested purposes. It might even be the case that the church, when deciding how, and how much aid to give in response to a disaster, might be influenced by considerations of what is in the best interests of the church to do. If a person has a single gift that he is willing to give to one of two people in equal need and he gives it to the one who he believes it is in his best interests to give it to, does that then remove, or lessen, any blessings he might receive for giving that gift, or is he counted evil before God for not giving it to the other person? 1 Samuel 15: 12 - 26 is also relevant. Moroni 7:8 For behold, if a man being evil giveth a gift, he doeth it grudgingly; wherefore it is counted unto him the same as if he had retained the gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God. Mormon, who wrote this letter, recorded his personal experience of praying, seemingly with great intent, but with no faith in Mormon 3:12 We see a good example of prayer without intent in Alma 31: 14 - 18. Moroni 7:9 And likewise also is it counted evil unto a man, if he shall pray and not with real intent of heart; yea, and it profiteth him nothing, for God receiveth none such. Come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. This is a promise from God to receive those who come unto Him with no fine print about intent. Moroni 7:9 And likewise also is it counted evil unto a man, if he shall pray and not with real intent of heart; yea, and it profiteth him nothing, for God receiveth none such. Again, Matthew 7: 9 - 11 when Christ said that evil people can give good gifts. Moroni 7:10 Wherefore, a man being evil cannot do that which is good; neither will he give a good gift. he sweetest waters - a broken heart and a contrite spirit - sometimes come from the most bitter of places - a heart torn by sin and regret. Perhaps one could go so far as to say that it is absolutely essential for a bitter fountain to bring forth good water. Moroni 7:11 For behold, a bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water; neither can a good fountain bring forth bitter water; I think what I am reacting against the most here is my impression that Mormon is saying that a person is either good or bad. Its difficult to see how that might be true. We are all, always, both. I suspect that pure evil and pure goodness are both as rare as each other. Moroni 7:11 For behold, a bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water; neither can a good fountain bring forth bitter water; wherefore, a man being a servant of the devil cannot follow Christ; and if he follow Christ he cannot be a servant of the devil. If a person has wandered 5 degrees of the straight and narrow path, he is still closer to God than the devil, but the fact that he has wandered could suggest that to a limited extent he is following both Christ and the devil. If he wanders more than 90 degrees off the path than he is actually going backwards and we could say that he is closer to the devil than to Christ. Moroni 7:11 For behold, a bitter fountain cannot bring forth good water; neither can a good fountain bring forth bitter water; wherefore, a man being a servant of the devil cannot follow Christ; and if he follow Christ he cannot be a servant of the devil. have always had trouble understanding what this scripture means. I attended Friday services at a mosque a few weeks ago. The people who attended believe in a false concept of God but they do believe in some form of god. Is that evil or good? Islam exhorts its followers to live a virtuous, perhaps even righteous, way of life, but if you tried to attract them to the higher, holier beliefs and practices of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, any such attempt would probably be met with rejection and maybe even hostility. This idea of living a righteous life is common to all major religious and it is a good thing, so according to Mormons' line of thinking, because it is good, it must come from God. But if the effect of these other religions is to hinder people from seeking a higher truth, and to bind people into a false form of worship and keep them from the source of all truth, then that would be a bad thing. If you are worshipping a false form of God, with faith and real intent, is that a good or a bad thing? Moroni 7:12 Wherefore, all things which are good cometh of God; and that which is evil cometh of the devil; What would Mormon have thought of the churches described in 4th Nephi 1:26- 27? They seemingly believed in Christ but they had many problems. What is the situation of those organisations which invite and entice to do good continually, such as Alcoholic Anonymous, but which only acknowledge a higher power, and not God. Or Rotary, or the Masons or any such organisation which entices its members to do good, entirely seperate from any religious beliefs? The legal system strives to do good but it will not be influenced by any overtly religious arguments (even though they require witnesses to swear on the bible). Moroni 7:13 But behold, that which is of God inviteth and enticeth to do good continually; wherefore, every thing which inviteth and enticeth to do good, and to love God, and to serve him, is inspired of God. I think there are many who blame misfortune on God. And the scriptures certainly make clear that a lot of unfortunate events can be directly attributed to God, the great flood being just one example. Moroni 7:14 Wherefore, take heed, my beloved brethren, that ye do not judge that which is evil to be of God

Moroni is writing for the benefit of those who are killing the Nephite Christians. Moroni 1 Moroni writes for the benefit of the Lamanites—The Nephites who will not deny Christ are put to death. So after they've killed all the Nephites they start killing themselves. Satan was not content with the destruction of one group of people, he wanted them all dead. Moroni 1:2 For behold, their wars are exceedingly fierce among themselves This sounds vaguely similar to Darius and his decree that anybody who prayed to God should be cast into a den of lions. Moroni 1:2 because of their hatred they put to death every Nephite that will not deny the Christ. This makes me think of Hebrews 9: 16 - 17 and Doctrine and Covenants 135:5 16 For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the ctestator. 17 For a testament is of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth. The testators are now dead, and their testament is in force. Joseph Smith calmly went to his death. Moroni actively sought for ways to avoid it. I wander how he died. Moroni 1:3 And I, Moroni, will not deny the Christ; wherefore, I wander whithersoever I can for the safety of mine own life. This shows enormous magnanimity by Moroni. Moroni 1:4 but I write a few more things, that perhaps they may be of worth unto my brethren, the Lamanites, in some future day, according to the will of the Lord. It sounds like they were disciples before they received the Aaronic Priesthood. Moroni 2:1 The words of Christ, which he spake unto his disciples, the twelve whom he had chosen,

Sounds similar to Lehi Ether 13 He prophesies, is cast out, I think the same applies to every other land. Ether 13:2 wherefore the Lord would have that all men should serve him who dwell upon the face thereof; I'm guessing this is referring to the destruction by the Babylonians rather than the destruction by the Romans. I'm not sure for how long Jerusalem remained a holy city. Ether 13:5 And he spake also concerning the house of Israel, and the Jerusalem from whence Lehi should come—after it should be destroyed it should be built up again, a holy city I guess this could be interpreted in two ways. One way is that the house of Joseph is a remnant of a larger part and the other way is a remnant, or part, of the house of Joseph. If we take the latter interpretation then that raises questions about the rest of the house of Joseph. Ether 13:8 Wherefore, the remnant of the house of Joseph Right now, Independence, Missouri sounds like the most likely contender, but at the moment that location is a long way from what it needs to be. Salt Lake probably used to be something like a holy city, but it no longer seems to have the character it once did, and Nauvoo is still not much more than a village. I note its exactly 80 miles from Adam-ondi-ahman to the Temple Lot, Independence, Missouri. Ether 13:8 Wherefore, the remnant of the house of Joseph shall be built upon this land; and it shall be a land of their inheritance; and they shall build up a holy city unto the Lord, like unto the Jerusalem of old; This may suggest that at some point there will be a lot of baptisms in the old Jerusalem. Ether 13:11 And then also cometh the Jerusalem of old; and the inhabitants thereof, blessed are they, for they have been washed in the blood of the Lamb; Why is this past tense? Ether 13:10 and they are they who are numbered among the remnant of the seed of Joseph, who were of the house of Israel. The Lord seems to be exercising tight editorial control on decisions about what is not written. I wander if there was the same degree of control over what was written. Ether 13:13 And I was about to write more, but I am forbidden; Night time is not usually the best time to do observations - its usually quite dark. What and how much could Ether view at this time? Ether 13:13 and by night he went forth viewing the things which should come upon the people. In verse 13 Moroni mentions how great and marvellous were the prophecies of Ether but they don't seem to have had any impact. Ether 13:17 and in fine, there were none of the fair sons and daughters upon the face of the whole earth who repented of their sins. Sounds like a pretty good deal to me. And the same deal is on the table for all of us, all the time - repent and be spared, don't repent and you won't be spared. Ether 13:20–21 he should go and prophesy unto Coriantumr that, if he would repent, and all his household, the Lord would give unto him his kingdom and spare the people—21 Otherwise they should be destroyed, and all his household save it were himself. I wander if these are Jaredite place names or Nephite place names. Ether 13:28 did pursue him until he came to the plains of Heshlon.

I guess it could make things easier if we learned to love those things we gotta do. Eventually we will all get to that point.