askandanswer

Yes, but on the other hand, the example of Daniel and his three friends, and of Jeremiah 52:24 suggests that the presence of a few righteous among the many wicked is not enough to save the wicked. 4 ¶ And the captain of the guard took Seraiah the chief priest, and Zephaniah the second priest, and the three keepers of the door:

True, it has begun, and hopefully will continue, at a faster rate. This still leaves open the question of whether or not the claim to ownership of the land by right of divine approval has any legitimacy. Surely, small groups of Jews becoming Christians is not enough to overwhelm the vast majority of the inhabitants of that land who have rejected Christ and His Gospel and who practice a false form of religion - the very same reasons why the Nephites and others lost the rights to the land that used to be theirs.

I wonder whose bill would be bigger - a capitalist oinker or just_a_guy lawyer?

Thanks oinker, now I know where to go if I ever have a similar question - that's a pretty good quality service you provide :)

And probably there were a few righteous Nephites, and a few righteous Jews immediately prior to the Babylonian captivity - but not enough to swing the balance.

This sounds quite reasonable, but I note that there are numerous verses, particularly in the latter part of 2nd Nephi, which suggests that the gathering and rebuilding will only occur, and may be dependent on, the people beginning to accept and believe on Jesus Christ. If that is the case, it simply adds support to the idea that possession of the land is conditional upon acceptance of Christ - with the other side of that idea being that non-acceptance of Christ means no divine claim on the land.

What follows is something that I’ve thought about from time to time but haven’t until now made any attempt to write out. I’m writing it out now because it is related to the topic of this post, although its not exactly the same set of issues that this post deals with. I’m trying to decide for myself whether there is still any legitimacy to the claim that the people who make up the nation of Israel are entitled to the land they now live on because God gave it to them. There may well be other reasons to claim why they are entitled to this land, and I’m not arguing for or against any of those claims, this thought is just about whether there remains any divinely granted right to the land. My reading of the scriptures is that whenever God has given away a piece of land to a particular group, the right of that group to maintain possession of that land has always been conditional upon their righteousness and obedience. The Jaredites were given America and they lost it due to their disobedience and wickedness and they were replaced by the children of Lehi, who, for a time were more righteous than the Jaredites. The same promises that had been made to the Jaredites were also made to Lehi’s children, but after time, through their rejection of God and His teachings, they also became dispossessed of their land. Prior to the children of Jacob occupying what is now Israel, the land was inhabited by Canaanites. The Lord makes clear that part of the reason why the Canaanites were dispossessed of the land was because of their wickedness and rejection of the Lord. Certainly there were numerous times when some, and then all, of the children of Jacob were dispossessed of some or all of their land, and every time it was because of their rejection of God. So there seems to be good evidence for the ideas that continued possession of a piece of land by a group of people to whom God has given it is dependent on their acceptance of, and obedience to, God, by that group of people, and that rejection of God by that group of people nullifies any claim to that land based on divine right. If that is a correct conclusion, can it then be argued that by their rejection of Christ and His gospel, the children of Jacob no longer have any divinely based right to the land of Israel? Please note that this is not a question about Israel’s right to exist – I don’t have a view on that question and I don’t feel the necessity to develop a view on that question. It is a question about whether there is still any legitimacy to the claim that the people who now live on the land that is known as Israel have a divine right to that land. ps I'm not trying to take any right wing or left wing or Republican or communist or Fox or Guardian or European viewpoint either.

Let me help you have 15% less money to worry about :) And hey, this offer doesn't only apply to Vort if anyone else needs to have less money to worry about just let me know, I'd love to help - purely motivated only out of a desire to serve.

maybe the camera in the helmet can be damaged by water, and wearing it on your head is the furtherest you can get it from the water. On your head just seems to be a good place to keep your helmet - this means it won't take up any space in the smallish canoe.

The impact of great knowledge will be lessened, when poorly delivered...............and poorly received. 10 And now come, saith the Lord, by the Spirit, unto the elders of his church, and let us reason together, that ye may understand; 11 Let us reason even as a man reasoneth one with another face to face. 12 Now, when a man reasoneth he is understood of man, because he reasoneth as a man; even so will I, the Lord, reason with you that you may understand. 13 Wherefore, I the Lord ask you this question—unto what were ye ordained? 14 To preach my gospel by the Spirit, even the Comforterwhich was sent forth to teach the truth. 15 And then received ye spirits which ye could not understand, and received them to be of God; and in this are ye justified? 16 Behold ye shall answer this question yourselves; nevertheless, I will be merciful unto you; he that is weak among you hereafter shall be made strong. 17 Verily I say unto you, he that is ordained of me and sent forth to preach the word of truth by the Comforter, in the Spirit of truth, doth he preach it by the Spirit of truth or some other way? 18 And if it be by some other way it is not of God. 19 And again, he that receiveth the word of truth, doth he receive it by the Spirit of truth or some other way? 20 If it be some other way it is not of God. 21 Therefore, why is it that ye cannot understand and know, that he that receiveth the word by the Spirit of truthreceiveth it as it is preached by the Spirit of truth? 22 Wherefore, he that preacheth and he that receiveth, understand one another, and both are edified and rejoicetogether. 23 And that which doth not edify is not of God, and isdarkness. 24 That which is of God is light; and he that receivethlight, and continueth in God, receiveth more light; and that light groweth brighter and brighter until the perfect day. 25 And again, verily I say unto you, and I say it that you may know the truth, that you may chase darkness from among you;

interesting - I've never come across anybody who is allergic to alphabet soup.

When I did this blindfolded on my unicycle last week, the video didn't turn out so well because it was midnight, and too dark to film clearly. I'm thinking about doing the whole ride backwards next week, but I sometimes get a little bored when I do the same ride twice. And as for risk, well, I think the only risk I am taking here is the risk of suffering in eternal fire and brimstone for telling such dreadful lies.

A lot of people who have studied previous versions of humanity, and animal behaviourists, have come to the conclusion that the use of tools is one of the distinctive, or distinguishing features of, intelligence. Assuming that there is a link between intelligence and the use of tools, and given that, as taught by several prophets, God is the source of the inspiration of the principles upon which many tools of the latter days have been built, and that these tools play a role in the furthering of His work on this earth, it would seem a little odd if tools and technology played no part in the next life. It may be that the rapidly growing proliferation of tools and technology, and there ever increasing usage may simply be preparing us for their widespread use after this life. I vaguely recall hearing a teaching ascribed to one of the latter-day prophets that one of the biggest surprises we will face in the next life is how much it is like this life and how familiar we are with it.

I think a better comparison would be whether a 17th century musketeer would recognise a machine gun. Or whether Wilbur Wright would recognise a 747. Or whether Karl Benz would recognise a Ferrari. I suspect, although of course there is no way to be sure, that some of the functions and processes of some of the technology we use today, are the prototypes of what will be used in the next life. I think that as we get closer and closer to the last days, aspects of this world will start to more closely resemble aspects of the next, including the technology of the next world.

I turn my phone off when I go to bed and then turn it back on shortly after I wake up. if people want to contact me during those times, they can use my land-line. I reply to texts, or not, when I want to, which is not always the same time as the sender would like and if there is something that I would really like someone to know, I will call them rather than text or email. I regard my phone and email as personal conveniences primarily for my benefit, and not the benefit of others, and use them accordingly.

In trying to decide whether or not to attend, I think you might find the following thread to be helpful http://lds.net/forums/topic/56697-mormons-free-to-back-gay-marriage-on-social-media-lds-apostle-reiterates/#entry816330

Tess, I enjoyed that description of how your family operates - very interesting.

I did exactly that many years ago. I made sure that in my re-typing, I included not just the text of the blessing but also the name of the Patriarch who gave it, then date it was given, and the reference number, in the top right corner. These days, you can just order a copy of your blessing online through the church website.

and also https://www.lds.org/scriptures/dc-testament/dc/24.18?lang=eng#17 but on the other hand 86 Therefore, let no man among you, for this commandment is unto all the faithful who are called of God in the church unto the ministry, from this hour take purse or scrip, that goeth forth to proclaim this gospel of the kingdom. 87 Behold, I send you out to reprove the world of all their unrighteous deeds, and to teach them of a judgment which is to come. 88 And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mineangels round about you, to bear you up. 89 Whoso receiveth you receiveth me; and the same will feed you, and clothe you, and give you money. 90 And he who feeds you, or clothes you, or gives you money, shall in nowise lose his reward. 91 And he that doeth not these things is not my disciple; by this you may know my disciples.

I notice that the url posted by Pam ends in lone - pam and it is immediately followed by a reply from a rider and a picture of a horse. Makes me think of a man who used to ride a horse called Silver.

I recall that Christ paid His taxes by asking one of His apostles to extract a piece of money from the mouth of a fish. Does that have any similarities with priestcraft as it has been defined and discussed in this topic? Would it be an attempt at priestcraft if you or I tried to find a pot of gold through the power of faith and prayer?

To me, this simply sounds like an updated version of the Lord's instructions to the ancient Israelites that they not intermarry with the people in surrounding territories. This morning I listened to an interesting and informed radio broadcast of a discussion about marriages between people of different cultures. The person being interviewed is in the final stages of completing her research which focussed on intercultural marriages, for which she interviewed 44 people. There was also some excellent phone-in listener contributions from the audience. It’s a good insight into, and discussion of, some of the issues that can arise with interracial marriages. The segment goes for about 20 minutes or thereabouts. It can be listened to at http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/lifematters/the-impact-of-moving-overseas-for-love/6332456. ps I note that in the quote above, President Kimball didn’t say we had to marry someone of the same sex........... but I guess that went without saying back them. pps and the fact that he didn't have to say it back then, but that it might need to be said now, or in 20 years time, would be an example of how counsel on marriage may need to change from time to time.

I think that Helaman chapters 10 and 11 give the best illustration of the Lord changing His plans in response to prayer. In Helaman 10:15 the Lord gives Nephi the sealing power and tells him that “I will make thee mighty in word and in deed, in faith and in works; yea, even that all things shall be done unto thee according to thy word, for thou shalt not ask that which is contrary to my will.” A few verses later, in verse 11, the Lord tells Nephi to tell the people “Except ye repent ye shall be smitten, even unto destruction.” The smiting and destruction commences in the form of a war starting at verse 18. At the start of chapter 11, Nephi, through prayer, as the Lord had foretold he would, asks the Lord to replace the war with a famine. So God’s preferred method of smiting the people was a war and Nephi’s preferred method was a famine, but God had already known in advance that that was what Nephi would do. And then, in the middle of chapter 11, Nephi prays again and asks the Lord to end the famine, which He does. Who knows how long the war would have continued for if Nephi had not asked for it to end, and who knows how long the famine would have continued for if Nephi had not asked the Lord to end it. I think its interesting that the Lord stopped the destruction that He forewarned of in favour of a method of destruction that Nephi asked for. Nephi asked for something different from what God was doing, but which was not contrary to His will – it was just a different approach of bringing about the will of God. Both the war and the famine, although quite different in nature, both worked to bring about the same objective.

Sounds like you've got a good strategy in place

Radio National Australia has been reporting for the last several hours now that 5 "volunteers" have been airlifted off one of the outer islands. They did not say which organisation the volunteers were from. It was a group of Australians, New Zealanders and British.