askandanswer

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  1. Haha
    askandanswer got a reaction from LDSGator in LDS Opinion on Appropriate Missionary Behavior   
    I don't have A CLU what you are talking about  (Sorry, couldn't resist)
  2. Haha
    askandanswer got a reaction from zil2 in LDS Opinion on Appropriate Missionary Behavior   
    I don't have A CLU what you are talking about  (Sorry, couldn't resist)
  3. Haha
    askandanswer reacted to The Folk Prophet in LDS Opinion on Appropriate Missionary Behavior   
    You don't know me. So we'll just let that one slide, as everyone else on the forum has a bit of a chuckle.
     
  4. Like
    askandanswer reacted to Just_A_Guy in Another Utah influencer arrested, or, pride cycles   
    I get where you’re going here; and generally agree.  But I would note that I think it’s a rare Saint who vets potential counselors solely on their Church membership status or hires the first Mormon counselor they run across.
    I cannot speak as to the particular case under discussion in this thread.  But I stand by my general comments earlier in this thread and will propose that the problem with most of the nominally/formerly LDS families who wound up in the news over the past few years isn’t that they listened to their bishops too much; it’s that they didn’t listen to their bishops closely enough.  
  5. Haha
    askandanswer reacted to Grunt in Newest Apostle   
    Wait.....having an MBA makes me an academic?  Hot diggity dog!
  6. Like
    askandanswer got a reaction from Jamie123 in Book of Mormon Reading Group: 18 Dec - 24 Dec 2023 (Mormon 1 - Ether 7)   
    It must be difficult to fight for a cause when you have no hope of winning. It is, also suggested by other scriptures that to be without hope is not too different from being without faith. Mormon 5:2 But behold, I was without hope, 
     
     
    Maybe there was a resurgence in the popularity of Jewish place names after Christ. In chapter 1 we saw David, Joshua and Aaron all being used as place names.  Mormon 5:3 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did come against us as we had fled to the city of Jordan;
     
     
    This reminds me of 2nd Samuel 11:2 when that which should have been hidden was revealed from the house top. Mormon 5:8  knowing that these things must surely be made known, and that all things which are hid must be revealed upon the house-tops—
     
    So far the Book of Mormon does not have a strong track record in convincing unbelieving Jews that Jesus is the Christ, unless we count the original inhabitants of central and south America as Jews because they descended from Lehi who was a Jew. But that seems silly, because if we apply that logic we could count the Jews as Egyptians, or of whatsoever land Jacob was in when his 12 sons were born. Mormon 5:14 And behold, they shall go unto the unbelieving of the Jews; and for this intent shall they go—that they may be persuaded that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God; that the Father may bring about, through his most Beloved, his great and eternal purpose, in restoring the Jews, or all the house of Israel, to the land of their inheritance.
     
     
    This is where the Book of Mormon has been spectacularly successful. Mormon 5:15  And also that the seed of this people may more fully believe his gospel, which shall go forth unto them from the Gentiles;
     
     
    I have a vague memory of Brigham Young or Joseph Smith commenting on/describing the native peoples of the Americas and I don't think that description is consistent with this prophecy here. Mormon 5:15 for this people shall be scattered, and shall become a dark, a filthy, and a loathsome people, beyond the description of that which ever hath been amongst us,
     
     
    This is an interesting, and I believe somewhat controversial among some people, idea, that there is a connection between physical appearance and levels of belief/wickedness. I suspect there is not a lot of evidence for it because some of the most wicked and war-mongering people have been white. Mormon 5:15   and this because of their unbelief and idolatry.
     
     
    The people who were being led about by Satan were engaged as hard as they could in mutual destruction. Satan could have his way with these people without restraint and his way was to lead them to death as fast as possible.
    Both Satan, in these chapters, and Christ, in 3rd Nephi 8, engaged in wholesale destruction of the wicked. Mormon 5:18  But now, behold, they are led about by Satan, even as chaff is driven before the wind,
     
     
    This is another example of how gifts of land and promised blessings from God are conditional and can easily be passed to another group of people. Mormon 5:19 And behold, the Lord hath reserved their blessings, which they might have received in the land, for the Gentiles who shall possess the land.
     
     
    The Nephites of his time are not listening to his preaching, so Mormon starts preaching to a people more than a thousand years into the future. I guess that like Alma, he could not be restrained.  Mormon 5:22 And then, O ye Gentiles, how can ye stand before the power of God, except ye shall repent and turn from your evil ways?
  7. Thanks
    askandanswer reacted to zil2 in Book of Mormon Reading Group: 11 Dec - 17 Dec 2023 (3 Nephi 14 - 4 Nephi 1)   
    Just made tomorrow's thread (today's for @askandanswer):
     
  8. Haha
    askandanswer reacted to zil2 in Another Woke-ism Worming Its Way Into Our Culture   
    That's the part that stopped me dead.  Really, you guys are so stupid that you need nine such committees, and we let you carry guns!? :SMH:
    Pretty sure we're gonna need more than 12...
  9. Like
    askandanswer reacted to zil2 in Book of Mormon Reading Group: 11 Dec - 17 Dec 2023 (3 Nephi 14 - 4 Nephi 1)   
    I expect it depends on what "die" means.  The three disciples are promised they won't "taste death" but will be changed from mortal (though translated) to immortal (resurrected) in the twinkling of an eye.  Does that mean they won't die?  I don't know.  Can you be resurrected without dying first?  Perhaps they'll die and be resurrected in said twinkling.  Perhaps that will be fast enough that they don't "taste death".
    Whatever the case, we believe John and the three disciples were translated - changed to a mortal form that doesn't suffer (as described in 3 Nephi 28).  As to John 21:23:
    What does it mean that John will "tarry till [Christ] come[s]"?  And how could he do that unless translated?  But this verse reads to me like John was correcting the rumor - perhaps people thought that "should not die" meant he would remain as he was for eternity - that wasn't possible.  Perhaps it was something that wasn't supposed to be talked about.
    I also note the link to Luke 9:26-27:
    v26 = Second Coming.  v27: some standing there won't die until the Second Coming.  We know of John.  Whether there were any others (not the others of the 12, that's pretty clear), we don't know.
    Anywho, we believe that John, like these three disciples (commonly called "the three Nephites") was translated into a state as described in 3 Nephi 28 and that they minister among mortals unknown to said mortals.
  10. Like
    askandanswer reacted to zil2 in Book of Mormon Reading Group: 11 Dec - 17 Dec 2023 (3 Nephi 14 - 4 Nephi 1)   
    I'm reasonably certain that every religion and every story the world has ever known devolved from truth.
    Those of us fortunate to have either work we love, or a productive hobby we love (whether quilting or woodworking or carving or painting or whatever), know that work can be rest if you love the work.  And those of us unfortunate enough to have to do work (generally to earn a living) which we don't (fully) love know that sometimes you need rest from that work.
    I have read (I think from one of the prophets) that our spirit will still crave those things which our body loved (whether that's cigarettes or chocolate cake) and that we will have to overcome that (either in the body or (more difficult) as a spirit, or even, I think, in the resurrection - that latter may have been Brigham Young).
    Or perhaps the majority of the Jews supported the scribes, Pharisees, and other leaders who spoke for them.  Of course, "by the Jews" isn't necessarily the same as "by all the Jews".
  11. Like
    askandanswer got a reaction from Jamie123 in Book of Mormon Reading Group: 11 Dec - 17 Dec 2023 (3 Nephi 14 - 4 Nephi 1)   
    This expounding of all things is a rare event. From what I recall, I believe it is only to a very small group of major prophets, for example, Moses, Abraham, John the Revelator, Enoch and Nephi and a few others, to whom all things are revealed. And just as those prophets were commanded not to reveal what they had been taught, it seems clear, from later verses, that these people were also commanded to not reveal what they had been taught   1 And now it came to pass that when Jesus had told these things he expounded them unto the multitude; and he did expound all things unto them, both great and small.   Taking a negative view of this experience, we could conclude that the positive benefits of having these scriptures was withheld from these people up until this point. 3 Nephi 26:2 And he saith: These scriptures, which ye had not with you, the Father commanded that I should give unto you; 
     
     
    There are suggestions that the Earth might become similar to the sea of glass referred to in Revelations and Doctrine and Covenants 130. Great heat is required to produce glass, I think it involves the melting of silica which is composed of the two elements oxygen and silica, and once its melted you can shape and blow and wrap it into any form you want. 3 Nephi 26:3   even until the elements should melt with fervent heat, and the earth should be wrapt together as a scroll,
     
     
    I wander if it will be the case that an action which was deemed as good at one time or place will be deemed as bad at another time. Two people from different times and cultures may have committed the same act but be judged differently for it. It was once thought to be a good thing to burn alive people who were thought to be witches but that would be frowned upon now. 3 Nephi 26:4  And even unto the great and last day, when all people, and all kindreds, and all nations and tongues shall stand before God, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil—
     
    I believe that as spirits and as intelligences we already had everlasting life and that no resurrection was needed for spirits because they had not died. Abraham taught part of this in Abraham 3:18. I'm not sure of the nature or extent to which the resurrection had any effect on the longevity of spirits but I understand that it made possible the resurrection of the body. If the resurrection applies only to the body being restored to life - the spirit having never lost its life - then the relationship between justice and the resurrection becomes less clear because all bodies will be brought back to life, unconditionally, with no regard to righteousness or wickedness. 3 Nephi 26:5 If they be good, to the resurrection of everlasting life; and if they be evil, to the resurrection of damnation;
     
    I'm reminded of the system Joseph Smith set out in Doctrine and Covenants 128, probably through inspiration, for recording baptisms for the dead. That system made possible the recording of enormous amounts of data from multiple locations in one "book." So first we have the teachings of Jesus in their totality. Then a small part, perhaps less than a hundredth, of those teachings recorded on the plates of Nephi. Then Moroni abridges those plates, leaving out even more of Christ's teachings. We are left with about 16 chapters of Christ's direct and personal teachings in this other Testament of Jesus Christ - 3rd Nephi 11 - 27 compared to 15 chapters of political intrigue and wars between the Nephites and the Lamanites in Alma 47 - 62. 3 Nephi 26:6 And now there cannot be written in this book even a hundredth part of the things which Jesus did truly teach unto the people;
  12. Like
    askandanswer reacted to pam in Newest Apostle   
    And one is from Brazil. 
  13. Like
    askandanswer got a reaction from zil2 in Book of Mormon Reading Group: 11 Dec - 17 Dec 2023 (3 Nephi 14 - 4 Nephi 1)   
    Another intersting thing to note about Malachi 4:6 is that it is the only verse I can remember at the moment that can be found in the Bible, the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. It seems as though the Lord really wanted us to have that particular teaching. 
  14. Like
    askandanswer reacted to laronius in Newest Apostle   
    Here are the relevant facts as I see it:
    1. God, who is omniscient, loves his children and does those things He knows will best further His work in saving them.
    The end.
  15. Like
    askandanswer reacted to zil2 in Newest Apostle   
    I am opposed to suggesting that those who struggle with anything in the Church go away - that is not Christ's way:
    We all struggle with different things.  We should pray for and minister (teach the gospel) to those who struggle.
  16. Like
    askandanswer got a reaction from Carborendum in Book of Mormon Reading Group: 11 Dec - 17 Dec 2023 (3 Nephi 14 - 4 Nephi 1)   
    This expounding of all things is a rare event. From what I recall, I believe it is only to a very small group of major prophets, for example, Moses, Abraham, John the Revelator, Enoch and Nephi and a few others, to whom all things are revealed. And just as those prophets were commanded not to reveal what they had been taught, it seems clear, from later verses, that these people were also commanded to not reveal what they had been taught   1 And now it came to pass that when Jesus had told these things he expounded them unto the multitude; and he did expound all things unto them, both great and small.   Taking a negative view of this experience, we could conclude that the positive benefits of having these scriptures was withheld from these people up until this point. 3 Nephi 26:2 And he saith: These scriptures, which ye had not with you, the Father commanded that I should give unto you; 
     
     
    There are suggestions that the Earth might become similar to the sea of glass referred to in Revelations and Doctrine and Covenants 130. Great heat is required to produce glass, I think it involves the melting of silica which is composed of the two elements oxygen and silica, and once its melted you can shape and blow and wrap it into any form you want. 3 Nephi 26:3   even until the elements should melt with fervent heat, and the earth should be wrapt together as a scroll,
     
     
    I wander if it will be the case that an action which was deemed as good at one time or place will be deemed as bad at another time. Two people from different times and cultures may have committed the same act but be judged differently for it. It was once thought to be a good thing to burn alive people who were thought to be witches but that would be frowned upon now. 3 Nephi 26:4  And even unto the great and last day, when all people, and all kindreds, and all nations and tongues shall stand before God, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil—
     
    I believe that as spirits and as intelligences we already had everlasting life and that no resurrection was needed for spirits because they had not died. Abraham taught part of this in Abraham 3:18. I'm not sure of the nature or extent to which the resurrection had any effect on the longevity of spirits but I understand that it made possible the resurrection of the body. If the resurrection applies only to the body being restored to life - the spirit having never lost its life - then the relationship between justice and the resurrection becomes less clear because all bodies will be brought back to life, unconditionally, with no regard to righteousness or wickedness. 3 Nephi 26:5 If they be good, to the resurrection of everlasting life; and if they be evil, to the resurrection of damnation;
     
    I'm reminded of the system Joseph Smith set out in Doctrine and Covenants 128, probably through inspiration, for recording baptisms for the dead. That system made possible the recording of enormous amounts of data from multiple locations in one "book." So first we have the teachings of Jesus in their totality. Then a small part, perhaps less than a hundredth, of those teachings recorded on the plates of Nephi. Then Moroni abridges those plates, leaving out even more of Christ's teachings. We are left with about 16 chapters of Christ's direct and personal teachings in this other Testament of Jesus Christ - 3rd Nephi 11 - 27 compared to 15 chapters of political intrigue and wars between the Nephites and the Lamanites in Alma 47 - 62. 3 Nephi 26:6 And now there cannot be written in this book even a hundredth part of the things which Jesus did truly teach unto the people;
  17. Like
    askandanswer reacted to Jamie123 in Book of Mormon Reading Group: 11 Dec - 17 Dec 2023 (3 Nephi 14 - 4 Nephi 1)   
    22:16  - I have created the smith... I wonder if that's a coincidence
  18. Like
    askandanswer reacted to zil2 in Newest Apostle   
    Amen! And thank you!
    Either Jesus Christ leads this Church or he doesn't.  If he does, nothing else matters.  Nothing.  Have faith in Christ!
  19. Thanks
    askandanswer got a reaction from zil2 in Newest Apostle   
    Before he was an airline pilot, Elder Uchtdorf was a refugee, twice. I'm not going to look up the talks but there has been more than one occasion when he has spoken about his experiences as a refugee in post- World War 2 Europe. My guess is that as a pilot he also flew to one or two third world countries and neither of us can make an informed guess as to what actions he took to become acquainted with the countries he spent 20 years or more flying to. 
    As I write, there are maybe a hundred or more senior church leaders around the world receiving training in Africa, Asia, the South Pacific and Central and South America as Area Authorities and members of Area Presidencies. I can't think of a more effective method of training. 
    I suspect that most, more likely all apostles and Area Presidents receive correspondence every day from members all over the world sharing very detailed accounts of their troubles and despair and providing personal, close up accounts of the things they struggle with. And then this understanding they get from reading some of this material every day is further reinforced through their frequent travels when they go out and meet and talk with local church leaders who know what is happening in their congregations. You cannot be in a senior leadership position over a period of decades without becoming intimately acquainted with the ordinary lives of those you lead. 
    Presiding Bishop Claude Gausse is another example of a non-American senior church leader. He is the third non-American Presiding Bishop we have had. Yes, he comes from a white middle-class background, but he also comes from a background where the church was small and struggling during his formative years. 
  20. Like
    askandanswer got a reaction from Carborendum in Newest Apostle   
    There are 12 men in the Quorum of the Twelve. One is of German/Austrian background, another has a Chinese background and the newest has a British background. That's one quarter of them
  21. Love
    askandanswer got a reaction from Grunt in Newest Apostle   
    There are 12 men in the Quorum of the Twelve. One is of German/Austrian background, another has a Chinese background and the newest has a British background. That's one quarter of them
  22. Like
    askandanswer reacted to Jamie123 in Wife is coming to Carol service   
    Absolutely right of course. "A weight only humility can bear and the backs of the proud will be broken."
  23. Like
    askandanswer reacted to zil2 in Newest Apostle   
    Did you read his bio?
  24. Love
    askandanswer reacted to Carborendum in Adopting a BIC Child?   
    I believe I'll have a low probability of success.  We haven't determined if we're moving forward with this.  But I thought I'd share the conditions that made me want to consider it. 
    Maybe I'm not thinking straight.  So, I'd welcome some corrections.
    My adult children attend a YSA ward where they know a friend who fell into familial estrangement.  Her mother and stepfather kicked her out of the home with no warning.  She was not allowed to go back into her home when she came back from a YSA activity.  She called some friends.  And after at least one home that couldn't take her in, she landed at our house.
    Her father was highly abusive to all his kids.  I didn't ask for details.  But it seems that all of his kids have refused to be around him.  The one exception is the youngest boy.  It appears that the father finally realized that he was losing his kids forever.  So, he overcompensated with the young boy and decided to spoil him.
    The mother re-married to a man who is not overtly abusive.  But he does things that just aren't right.  I wouldn't call it "emotionally abusive" behavior (my non-professional assessment).  Perhaps it is "emotional blackmail" -- and that may be too strong.  But I can't think of a more accurate term.  What I've witnessed first-hand is what I'd call rudeness and/or coldness.  So, is that abusive?  No. But there is clearly no love in that relationship.
    When she was at our house helping with some kitchen clean up she dropped a dish and food spilled out on the floor.  She fell into tears and exhibited tremendous fear.  She cleaned it up but then went straight to her room to cry.  Empress went to her to try to soothe her.  It seems that her stepfather would throw tantrums at her for spilling something at the dinner table.  So, she feared that we would kick her out of the house for such an infraction.  Empress told her not to worry.  She was satisfied that no dishes were broken, and she (the girl) cleaned it all up before running to her room.  I tell you, whatever the details of what actually happened in that home, this type of behavior is an indicator of something not being right in that home.
    The one major thing I can't get around is that they have stolen over $4000 from her.  They say that they are simply holding it for her.  But they won't give it back to her ... unless... she does certain things.  But they've already gone through several cycles of her "taking care of a few things first".  It is becoming apparent that they are never going to give that money back to her.
    I've recently been entertaining myself with Mr. Reddito videos.  While there is a revulsion aspect to the stories, I also get a sense of relief that our family isn't like that.  But when faced with a real-life situation like this, it is not just some method of entertainment.  This is a real person being messed up by real people who are messed up themselves.  Still, I'm glad my family isn't like that.
    Because of how she was raised, she has some emotional/psychological baggage.  She's basically a good kid.  But she has some self-destructive behaviors.  They aren't in the "evil" category.  But they are making us raise eyebrows at a few things.  She is a compulsive eater, and shopper.  And we've tried to encourage her to change these behaviors.  We've had some impact.  But it is a process.  It takes time to overcome such habits. We've gotten her to stop certain other behaviors.  And she does feel some mild heartache over that.  But she's making an effort to make changes.
    The reason I'm even considering this is that if you take away just a few idiosyncrasies and the compulsions, she actually fits right into our family.  It's kinda funny that she's the same age (four months older) as our son who is currently on a mission.  And this is the son that we say (facetiously) should have been a girl because of the boy-girl-boy pattern of the rest of our kids.  So, if we substituted her for him, we'd have a perfect pattern.
    Anyway, it is still a consideration.  But right now it is weighing further to the side of "no formal / legal / temple changes".  From a personal and social position, we call her our foster daughter and we treat her like a member of the family.  We'll see how things go as we continue.
  25. Haha
    askandanswer got a reaction from Carborendum in Book of Mormon Reading Group: 04 Dec - 10 Dec 2023 (Helaman 15 - 3 Nephi 13)   
    Clearly, this person is having difficulties eating chocolate cake. My recommendation for anybody who has an undeveloped skill is practice, practice, practice. You're going to have to significantly increase your chocolate cake consumption in order to get your skills up. You'll know your cake consumption skills are at the right level when you can finish two chocolate cakes in an hour and still be looking around for a third.