laronius

That's not saying much. "My guy" presents a pretty low bar for comparison.

JS Matthew 1:48 Therefore be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh. We know that if we are wise and understand the scriptures we can know the season in which Christ will return but not the specific day or hour. This verse seems to imply that even if we know the season we may still be surprised when it actually happens. It makes me wonder what the conditions will be like so as to make His coming unexpected. I was watching a YouTube video yesterday where the guy was performing some pretty serious prophetic gymnastics to make this General Conference as a possible time of His coming. While I gave him a really low overall score I did award him some difficulty points. 😃 But it did make me wonder about two different possibilities for an unexpected Second Coming. The first is that some signs are fulfilled without us fully realizing it (which this guy was relying heavily upon). The second is that certain events happen so quickly that it just catches us off guard how quickly things transpire. This second theory would seem to support the idea of a hastening and the times being cut short. While I don't think things will happen so quickly as to make this General Conference a viable candidate it does make me wonder just how quickly it could take place.

I feel the same, much too long of verses. I'm not a good singer anyway but that hymn just really taxes my vocal cords. I actually really like A Poor Wayfaring Man of Grief but now that I think about it I cannot even remember the last time we've sung it at church. Maybe years. That's a shame.

It appears that when they were in bondage in Egypt for all those many years idolatry was not a problem. It was only when they had been freed and felt they no longer needed the Lord did they forget Him. I am reminded of the early days of the Church when the Lord had this to say when the saints were enduring great persecution: D&C 101:8 In the day of their peace they esteemed lightly my counsel; but, in the day of their trouble, of necessity they feel after me. I wish I could say that this hasn't been an issue in my own life. I imagine the dilemma that God must face, wanting to bless us with everything a loving parent can bestow upon a child but knowing that blessing may become a curse.

Kind of sounds like something Truman Madsen would speak about but I can't remember for sure.

On a related note coming from that same section of the D&C are these words: 36 All kingdoms have a law given; 37 And there are many kingdoms; for there is no space in the which there is no kingdom; and there is no kingdom in which there is no space, either a greater or a lesser kingdom. 38 And unto every kingdom is given a law; and unto every law there are certain bounds also and conditions. 39 All beings who abide not in those conditions are not justified. The first question that comes to my mind is What law has our present state or kingdom been given? In the gospel we are commanded to live a Celestial law but we live in a Telestial state. This mortal existence really is an interesting thing. It allows for Celestial type beings (at least those working to become so) to live nextdoor to Telestial type beings (or worse) with both being able to fully engage in their own lifestyles. It really is a good proving ground.

My guess is our fallen mortal bodies make poor discerners of what me might call non-physical light (though we may come to learn there really is no such distinction). Hence the great need of the Holy Ghost in helping us receive the light we need. In the resurrection we will receive immortal bodies commensurate with our willingness to accept light and will inherit kingdoms of glory/light in proportion to what our bodies can receive.

D&C 88:6 He that ascended up on high, as also he descended below all things, in that he comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth; 7 Which truth shineth. This is the light of Christ. As also he is in the sun, and the light of the sun, and the power thereof by which it was made. 8 As also he is in the moon, and is the light of the moon, and the power thereof by which it was made; 9 As also the light of the stars, and the power thereof by which they were made; 10 And the earth also, and the power thereof, even the earth upon which you stand. 11 And the light which shineth, which giveth you light, is through him who enlighteneth your eyes, which is the same light that quickeneth your understandings; 12 Which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space— 13 The light which is in all things, which giveth life to all things, which is the law by which all things are governed, even the power of God who sitteth upon his throne, who is in the bosom of eternity, who is in the midst of all things. I have generally read these verses as a metaphor, the light of the gospel/Christ/truth that comes from God being likened unto the physical light that allows us to see with our eyes. But verse 11 seems to be more literal, making them one in the same. Is that how everyone else reads it?

Our knowledge of our existence is mostly limited to the immediate past and future. I am defining immediate from an eternal perspective, so in other words the revealed premortal spirit world and the postmortal spirit world through judgement. As we move out beyond those points our knowledge is extremely limited. And while there are a few things we do know it would kind of be like connecting the dots of a drawing of an architectural plan where 95% of the dots are missing. Maybe enough to give us a very vague outline but trying to fill in details is guess work.

Contact the mission president. He holds the keys for the missionaries.

Jehovah had to gain a body in order to become our Savior. It wasn't a glorified body but it was a body nonetheless. As for the Holy Ghost being able to do things, relative to our salvation, that the Father can't do, the jury is still out for me. Like @Vort I'm not ready to definitively put limitations on God's abilities but at the same time why have such a "position" in the Godhood if our Father in Heaven can already do that. And my question, while interested in the actual answer to it, was partly rhetorical as a consideration to the relationship between bondage and a lack of a body, as @mikboneasked.

I think that's an interesting question because we assume his present state as a spirit allows him to perform his responsibilities. But does that mean there are things he can do that God the Father can't because He has a body?

Exaltation down under. From penal colony to heavenly abode. You might have a point there. 😃

So I guess a follow-up question would be is there a connection between this and the three degrees of glory or is it totally different imagery? I have heard of the moon being likened unto prophets who receive light from the Sun/Son and shares it with the world. An off the wall thought I had is that stars are really just suns, but much farther away. So is it speaking strictly from an earthly viewpoint or a more universal viewpoint?

Another possibility arises with what the future holds specifically for children who die. Some believe they will still have the chance to mature to adulthood, perhaps during the Millennium, before they are resurrected. Maybe a Lazarus type regeneration, temporary in nature. But I also agree with your assessment that resurrection does not have to utilize the final remains of an individual.

I like his insight and it does bring some clarity but I don't completely agree with his conclusion. Saying that God said No, No, and then Yes might be oversimplifying it but that is in essence what He said, conditional though it may have been. And yes, God will eventually give us what we want, even contrary to His will if we persist long enough. Just recently I had felt to take a certain action that I kept finding excuses not to, when in one of my doubting prayers the Spirit in essence said "Then don't do it." Sensing the Lord growing weary with me I quickly humbled myself and acted on the original prompting. In both instances the Lord's "Yes" isn't signifying approval of the act (or in my case lack of action) but rather the Lord not willing to subvert agency by applying too much pressure. If we want to do things our way He won't stand in the way but will be waiting for us on the other end of those poor choices to encourage us back onto the right path.

Matt. 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. I don't see why righteous Abel would not have been resurrected by now. If their time is anything like our time the gospel should have already been preached to everyone of that dispensation. I would think his work was done.

I don't mean it's the only box but for Jesus it was His final box. He had already become perfect in every other way.

If we had to check all of the boxes of what it means to be exalted I would say resurrection was the final step.

Most married men would disagree with you.

That's the trick, isn't it. So very little has been said by the brethren, past or present, that definitively addresses the question. Here's two quotes from the essay @LDSGatorreferenced: "None of these explanations is accepted today as the official doctrine of the Church." "...the Church disavows the theories advanced in the past..." Disavowing and not accepting falls short of saying it's not true. In the absence of an official doctrine I think they are going out of their way to not put revelatory words into the Lord's mouth. But it doesn't mean it's true either. Just a lot of theories.

That's a correct quote, but I can't guarantee the original transcription is correct. JD 11:266

Brigham Young: "Why are so many of the inhabitants of the earth cursed with a sin of blackness? It comes in consequence of their fathers rejecting the power of the Holy Priesthood, and the law of God. They will go down to death. And when all the rest of the children have received their blessings in the Holy Priesthood, then that curse will be removed from the seed of Cain, and they will then come up and possess the priesthood, and receive all the blessings which we now are entitled to." I had heard that first part before and there are differing opinions as to whether he was just expressing opinion or not. But the second half about when the blacks would receive the priesthood is new to me. Is that how it happened? Did they not receive the priesthood until it was deemed fulfilled that the priesthood had been sufficiently offered to non-black races first? I don't know how that would be measured but I thought it was interesting, in lieu of no official answer.

Alma 32:27 ...even if ye can no more than desire to believe, let this desire work in you, even until ye believe... It sounds like this is where you are at. I underlined "until" because there is no set timetable for how long this phase lasts. Just know it is a recognized step in the process of developing strong faith. So don't fret over not having the faith you wish you had, you are already on the path that will get you there. Just keep desiring. I'm going to be really frank here. This mindset is pointless. It's a rabbit hole to nihilism. What if nothing was real? Then what's the point? Even Satan's warped plan for us had more merit than this line of thinking. At least he'd force us to believe something. Concerning the spiritual experiences you've had: Alma 32:34-35 ...ye know that the word hath swelled your souls, and ye also know that it hath sprouted up, that your understanding doth begin to be enlightened, and your mind doth begin to expand. O then, is not this real? I say unto you, Yea, because it is light; and whatsoever is light, is good, because it is discernible... The joy and peace you've experienced was real because it was light. This is a subject you might want to study because light defines our very existence and purpose on earth. At the end of the day though believing is a choice. You can either choose to believe or choose not to. Perhaps you just need to make that choice and allow God the chance to prove you right.

I'm not a mechanic but it sounds like the only issue that would keep you from driving are the brakes. So unless there are other issues you might want to focus on that first and buy some time for the rest. Some mechanic shops will try to find every little possible thing to fix even though they aren't particularly urgent. Also, your bishop may have connections to a more reasonably priced mechanic or even a second (honest) opinion.