laronius

I think what we call perspective is really just seeing through the glass darkly in that we only see part of the picture whereas God sees the whole thing. The part that I see is a product of my life experience which is never going to be exactly the same as anyone else. But the more we learn and experience the greater and more inclusive our perspective becomes until we see as God sees. Kind of like listening to the same general conference talk and coming away with differing and yet still correct understandings of what was taught. One day we will comprehend it all fully but for now God shows us that which is most relevant for us individually.

This is my point. Does this "huge difference" increase the quality of life or provide some actual benefit for the patient even one iota? If so then I agree it should be done and I would do so myself. If not then what difference, huge or otherwise, has been accomplished? When I say acceptable I am not talking about substandard. And maybe it's just a difference in how we define the term.

Maybe it's just me but I really don't like doing things for the sake of doing things. When I reach the point where no additional benefit is achieved other than just because I could do it better I lose all motivation. If the piece that goes underneath is sufficient to do the job I would much rather move on to something that isn't sufficient for what's needed.

I don't know that I believe in an actual blessing of release as an authoritative act. I think at the point where a release is the Lord's will it may be manifest to loved ones but the blessing is more for the benefit of everyone else and so "releasing" an individual is more of a letting go by the loved ones. It does seem like I remember a quote about people having to suffer longer than need be because everyone keeps praying for them to not die but I could be wrong.

At some point the church stopped receiving tithing in kind. If that wasn't for efficiency's sake I don't know what it was.

I could be wrong but I don't know of any prophecy that says "the Church" is going to relocate to Missouri. Build up a Zion City there? Yes. But that doesn't mean everyone has to move there. I think it will be a gathering point at some future time but only for certain people to accomplish certain responsibilities. Otherwise, the Lord needs us all over the world to do his work. Now concerning the drought it very well may be one of the many signs of the times. But if you think escaping to Missouri is to escape the less fun signs of the times I would think twice about that. I think that place is going to get "purified" like nothing we've seen before. To be the Lord's Zion it's got to be.

Matthew quotes the scripture in relation to Jesus' birth adding it's interpretation that "God is with us" so it's fulfillment is found not so much as his name rather than who he was. Similar I think to the prophecy found is Isaiah 9:6 "...and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

For me it has always been a temptation to focus to heavily on the intellectual pursuit when studying the scriptures. I would judge a successful scripture study by whether I had learned something new, which is not necessarily wrong but if that learning does not translate into living then I have not truly accessed the power of the scriptures. That's kind of like me eating a Thanksgiving dinner every day and then sitting around watching football. My body is just going to grow fat and lazy. Got to put that spiritual nourishment to work.

Yes.

Because they recognize that the Lord often reveals things line by line, precept by precept. They were praying for guidance, not necessarily a reversal of policy.

I would caution on making this assumption. As a preface to Pres Nelson's explanation to the changes in policy he said this: "...we can adjust policy when the Lord directs us to do so." What proof do you have that the original policy adjustment was not inspired? In other words you are saying that the brethren decided to deny baptism to children without first receiving approval from the Lord to make that change. Is that really what you want to imply? Pres Nelson also said: "The First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve have continued to seek the Lord’s guidance and to plead with Him in behalf of His children who were affected by the 2015 policy." Why would they plead with the Lord in behalf of those affected by the 2015 policy if it was not the Lord's direction in the first place? Also, just to be clear it was never the policy that children of LGBT parents could not be baptized until 18. The initial change made was that it would require approval from the First Presidency before they were baptized. Later that policy was changed so that the determination could be made at the local level. What the initial policy change did was put the First Presidency in closer contact with those LGBT parents whose homes the brethren were trying to support in the first place. I can only imagine how much understanding and enlightenment came from those dialogues, whether it was in person or through a representative, not just in relation to the baptism of children but in supporting homes of LGBT parents in general. We may not always know why the Lord does what he does but we shouldn't just assume something is uninspired just because we don't have all the answers up font or that there is another change later on. Recently Pres Nelson said: "I know that good inspiration is based upon good information..." This may very well have been a case where in seeking the Lord's direction on how to support these certain homes the Lord essentially said "You don't have all the information you need so let's make a policy adjustment that will help you gather that information. Then when you know more you will be in a better position to bless the lives of my children."

As a general rule I avoid anything that appears to be click-bait. If the product is legit and of real value there is no need for sensationalism or misdirection.

You mean in addition to with live? I can't say that I'm super knowledgeable about substance abuse so I would have to rely more on the Spirit. Every situation is different.

Loving someone only means we have the proper motivation in trying to help them. It doesn't negate the importance of using wisdom nor acting under the influence of the Spirit. But if we truly love them then we will do whatever is necessary to help them. That is why it is such an important commandment because not only can it greatly bless the recipient but it can also have a sanctifying effect on the one expressing the love. Of course, as @mikbone pointed out, much of the responsibility still rests upon the intended recipient to receive that love.

It makes for a tricky situation to be sure. Partly because we identify certain eternal truths with certain societal norms that it's tough to pull them apart. A couple years ago we had a young woman transition (no pun intended) from primary to young women's but who always wanted to be doing what the young men were doing during mutual. I think largely because she was surrounded by boys at home and that was the kind of activity she grew up with. But the young women leaders would come and gather her up to participate with the young women. I think in time she came to appreciate the young women's activities but I remember thinking at the time that it must be hard to want to do what the boys are doing but told she can't because she was a girl. The gospel of Jesus Christ does not say girls have to prefer sewing over dodgeball. There have always been more feminine boys and more masculine girls and there is nothing wrong with that. Part of it is I think nurture and part I think is nature (temporally speaking) and I think there ought to be accomodations for that. But it can never be allowed to overshadow the eternal truth of who we are. Gender is not fluid, but eternal, and for those wishing to participate there must be the recognition that while they deserve to be treated with love and kindness like everyone else the tenets of our faith will not be compromised. I think this is where the new youth programs are truly inspired. Instead of youth being told what they ought to pursue (whether with scouts or young women awards) youth now choose their own goals that allow them to pursue their own interests but still within the framework of the gospel. There will still be difficult situations to address but I think the Lord has provided His church a much better structure to deal with them.

To quote Lectures on Faith: "For faith could not center in a being of whose existence we had no idea; because the idea of his existence in the first instance is essential to the exercise of faith in him." So no an atheist cannot exercise faith in God/Jesus Christ. But while the answer to my question is pretty straight forward in reality it was really secondary in terms of what I wanted to discuss which was the relationship between acting on the light of Christ and developing faith in Christ. So I appreciate everyone's comments. The three elements necessary for faith, according to LOF, are: First, The idea that he actually exists. Secondly, A correct idea of his character, perfections and attributes. Thirdly, An actual knowledge that the course of life which he is pursuing, is according to his will. Having an "idea" that God exists surely implies a willingness to even consider the possibility where as an atheist has altogether rejected that notion, though it may be because, as @Traveler pointed out, they do not possess the second necessary requirement. But it's the third requirement I find most interesting and I think where the light of Christ comes into play. As someone begins to entertain the possibility of their being a God and learns of His divine attributes the Holy Ghost can begin to work on that person to the convincing of their truthfulness. But the ability for the Holy Ghost to do this is, I believe, is directly tied to a person's willingness to abide by the light of Christ. Responding to the light of Christ is, at least in a limited fashion, living according to the will of God, a necessary prerequisite to faith. Also, a person who has smothered the light of Christ in the choices they make are going to discover it nearly impossible for the Holy Ghost to reach them in any meaningful manner. So while responding to the light of Christ is not yet acting in faith I do believe it is necessary preparation for the development of that faith.

Quick question. Feel free to expound on your answer should you so choose. When an atheist acts upon the light of Christ within them and obeys a commandment of God, is he/she unknowingly exercising faith in Christ?

Modesty is not often addressed when teaching young men because when it comes to the law of chastity there are a half dozen other topics that are of greater importance to address in terms of what they may actually be struggling with. Where as for young women modesty is more likely to be an issue some struggle with and thus more likely to be addressed. It's as simple as that. The whole idea of trying to make things "fair" is one of Satan's tricks for distracting us from what matters most.

I think having a temple recommend is largely symbolic and the power of that symbol is largely what we make of it. It begins with our approach to the interview. When viewed as an interview with the Lord it can become a profoundly sacred experience. There is a big difference between those who are there just to answer the questions right and those who see the opportunity to express the depth of their conviction and love of the Lord. Both may be considered worthy but the experience seems to mean so much more to those who recognize the importance of the principle taught over and over in the temple of returning and reporting. It is something that happens at various intervals: daily in prayer, weekly with the sacrament and every two years with temple recommends. I think for these people the physical recommend is a reminder of that ultimate report we all will have with the Lord that the temple prepares us for.

Encouraging is a good start but from pre-covid experience real progress in this area only happened when executive secretaries started working the expired recommend list setting up appointments with the bishop. This got the lazies in and those with worthiness issues progressing towards worthiness again. Some things just require that one on one level of effort. Either that or maybe a temple recommend lottery.

@Ironhold I'm not even going to try to empathize with what you are dealing with. It seems like some people get more than their share of trials in this life. I have a friend who has had to deal with major loss and disappointment over and over again during his life and yet he keeps on going and another who seems to get diagnosed with a different kind of cancer every couple of years and yet doesn't slow down in pursuing life. I think you would belong in this category of people I'm inspired by and of whom i say I'm glad it's not me because I don't know how I'd handle it. Keep up the good fight and continue to put your trust in Him who does know exactly what you are dealing with.

@Traveler I think you make a great point. I often find myself wanting to shut the world out, the people and their problems. But then I'm reminded of the parable of the Good Samaritan where the so-called spiritual leaders avoided the man who fell among thieves lest they themselves get sucked into a societal problem they witness. Yet this is one of the very reasons we are on the earth at this time, to provide a light in an increasingly dark world so that those who are humbled because of what's going on will know where to turn. @mirkwood's experience with the dramatic rise in domestic problems is troubling yet makes perfect sense as that is where everything begins both the good and the bad and then spreads out into society in general. I don't follow professional basketball, for various reasons, but I've noticed in the news a number of incidents recently of fans becoming hostile towards players, something I don't think was common in the past. Just another sign of what's happening in men's hearts at large.

In the Book of Mormon, following traumatic experiences like war, we often see a polarization among the people. Either they are more humble or more hard hearted. I work in the tax industry so much of it is very seasonal. As a result I interacted with a lot of people pre-covid or just at the onset and then a gap in time and now again for the past 5 months. Of course it was part of the conversation with many of my clients and it was interesting to see people's response. But one thing that has stuck out to me is the dramatic uptick in the number of people who became verbally abusive, especially towards female employees. It's normal for people to get upset, especially when dealing with everyone's favorite pastime, taxes. But it was almost a weekly occurrence with people yelling some very strong obscenities at employees and that is something that just hasn't happened in the past. As a result we are implementing a zero tolerance policy when it comes to this but I am still concerned about what it means for society. Of course we see a lot of commotion in society in general but I was wondering if anyone else has seen a change in people over the last year?

And what about him being a Jr?

Knowledge is nothing more than experience. When we experience something we then know it (to a greater or lesser degree based on the experience). Things we experience with our physical senses we more easily put stock in, not because they are superior to our spiritual sense but because our physical senses are active practically 24/7 and we thus gain a lot of experience with them where as engaging our spiritual sense is not necessarily automatic and takes effort and practice to both engage and maintain. But with work it can become far superior to our physical senses (at least those of our current fallen form). So as we experience things with our senses (physical or spiritual) we come to know things and as we come to know things we then use that knowledge to create a framework about those things we do not yet know. This created framework is faith. A belief about the unknown but based on things we do know. As we then act on that faith we continue to have more experience and thus gain greater knowledge which allows us to more perfectly project (have faith in) that which we have not yet experienced. I think that phrase "more perfectly" is critical because both faith and knowledge come by degrees. As soon as I have experience I can say I know but it's not to the same extent as that following years of "proving" that knowledge with many more experiences. So we shouldn't be overly critical about what people declare they know nor should we try to draw a hard line between what we have faith in and what we know because they are elements of spiritual growth that build off of each other.