laronius

I imagine Jacob did teach him all that but we know what Enos remembered:
"the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart."
I think he came to a realization of the great chasm between his lost and fallen state and where he wanted to be. Despite his father's teaching it had to seem insurmountable. 
I came across something yesterday that I think is applicable.
Ether 12:4 Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God...
I always figured that this word surety was just an older way of saying sure, like confident or certain. And it can be. But it also has an enhanced meaning.
Surety: a person who takes responsibility for another's performance of an undertaking, for example their appearing in court or the payment of a debt.
The gospel application here is pretty obvious. Christ has become surety for us, to pay a debt that is impossible for us to pay on our own. I think it was this feeling of impossibleness that weighed heavily upon Enos' mind, despite what he had been taught. But he learned that with God all things are possible, especially the most important stuff.

I imagine Jacob did teach him all that but we know what Enos remembered:
"the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart."
I think he came to a realization of the great chasm between his lost and fallen state and where he wanted to be. Despite his father's teaching it had to seem insurmountable. 
I came across something yesterday that I think is applicable.
Ether 12:4 Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God...
I always figured that this word surety was just an older way of saying sure, like confident or certain. And it can be. But it also has an enhanced meaning.
Surety: a person who takes responsibility for another's performance of an undertaking, for example their appearing in court or the payment of a debt.
The gospel application here is pretty obvious. Christ has become surety for us, to pay a debt that is impossible for us to pay on our own. I think it was this feeling of impossibleness that weighed heavily upon Enos' mind, despite what he had been taught. But he learned that with God all things are possible, especially the most important stuff.

It's an interesting question.  In our day, we emphasize that each member of the Godhead is a distinct individual, but all united in purpose.  In no small part, this is to counter the false teaching of the Trinity.  The Book of Mormon people had never heard of the Trinity, but being from among the Jews, the idea of only one God would have been hyper-important to them.  This is reflected in the Book of Mormon text where, despite knowing of each member of the Godhead, they seem to go out of their way to emphasize that there is only one God.  There's no telling whether, in their heads, they thought of three distinct persons, each being God, or whether they thought of three distinct persons acting together as a "God-unit", or something else entirely.
The fact is that They are one, so each individual is God, and any subset of Them is God, and all of Them together are God.  (And trying to figure out / remember the capitalization rules is making me wish I was born in Germany...)

In fast and testimony meeting today (had stake conference last week) a sister got up and related that her parents are missionaries back in Kirtland, OH. She said that during the meeting between the churches to discuss the sale of the temple a guy in attendance from the Community of Christ was seriously opposed to the sale and really wanted to raise an objection to it. But he said the Spirit restrained him so he could not object and a voice spoke to him saying "This isn't your temple or their temple. It's my temple." 
Assuming that's a true account of events, it would seem that the Lord is yet mindful of these descendants of early Church members and that He cares about how they feel about these things. There may yet be a reconciliation in the future. Perhaps in Independence.

In fast and testimony meeting today (had stake conference last week) a sister got up and related that her parents are missionaries back in Kirtland, OH. She said that during the meeting between the churches to discuss the sale of the temple a guy in attendance from the Community of Christ was seriously opposed to the sale and really wanted to raise an objection to it. But he said the Spirit restrained him so he could not object and a voice spoke to him saying "This isn't your temple or their temple. It's my temple." 
Assuming that's a true account of events, it would seem that the Lord is yet mindful of these descendants of early Church members and that He cares about how they feel about these things. There may yet be a reconciliation in the future. Perhaps in Independence.

That's how it is with iniquity in general in our day. Save for a few crimes that are still socially regarded as wrong, you are not allowed to say negative things about doing wrong because that implies casting judgement on the doers of them. To do so is divisive and meanspirited, which apparently matters more than the actual doing of right or wrong. This is even starting to include being too public in one's own right actions because doing right can only be motivated by wanting to make others look bad. 

I am by no means an artist, but my father was, and I was schooled in the arts.  There is a lot of the artist in their art.  In essence, all art at its core (meaning and purpose) is a self-portrait.
 
The Traveler

3. It's always a bit odd to me to have a lay member state they're not sure how comfortable they are with something the church did as if the church is not led by God.

I have heard about the cave with the records.  I think there could be MANY explanations.
WE have probed the Hill Cumorah and also done sonic and radar on the hill (from what I understand) to show that there is no chamber inside the Hill.
Now, I do NOT think we've probed DEEPER (and how deep it could be how far...who knows.  It could be a chamber under the hill...thus in the hill...by hundreds if not thousands of meters!).
It could ALSO be various other explanations other than a physical location in the Hill Cumorah itself.
For example, there is an idea that this Earth is where the Telestial and Celestial Kingdoms are.  It is also where the Spirit World is. 
Some who have this idea also have a belief of something akin to multiple dimensions, where you have several different dimensions occupying the same space at the the same time.  Hence, the Spirit world is also here in the same spot, but in a different dimension (or way of existing) than ours.
Hence, in that light, there could be a chamber in the Hill Cumorah but you will only be able to see or enter it via spiritual means until we have a higher spiritual existence as it resides in the same location, but a different existence (if that makes sense with what I said above).
Another idea is that it is there, but just as the plates (which were in the Hill for hundreds of years and yet no one had discovered them) lay hidden, that the Lord concealed the plates from normal individuals and people...and in this same way the chambers with the other records are also concealed.
 
There are many different ways it COULD work with a chamber or cave being within the Hill Cumorah, but if this is where the records are or how they are concealed for now is obviously not revealed to the general membership of the church. 
 

I dislike certain tags that oversimplify and distort matters, such as the "Two-Cumorah Theory". Rather than state the matter as "there were two or perhaps more hills called Cumorah", which, though possible, sounds clearly like a stretch (or a tautology—"King Lear was not written by William Shakespeare, but by another playwright of the same name"), a better statement would be, "Perhaps the very name 'Hill Cumorah' simply means the hill chosen to house records." If we assume that records were always hidden somewhere on a hill so that (1) they would be marked by an easily recognizable landmark and (2) they would shed rainfall, it's easy to see that such a hill might become generally known as "Records Hill". Those concerned with record-keeping would quickly learn to look for the Records Hill in an area. If "Cumorah" denotes written records or a storage place for them, then this identification makes perfect sense.
Of course, it's still an unsupported assertion, really just speculation. But it certainly has great explanatory value for those who believe the literal truth of the Book of Mormon and the narrative that it provides, and it doesn't immediately raise suspicion and mockery like "Two-Cumorah Theory" does.

Say what you will about Trump, he does indeed have many distasteful qualities. But at the end of the day the left promotes policies that are far more destructive of the family, society and the Constitution. Some of which are flat out EVIL. I personally cannot justify voting for that.
There are no good options right now (at least not viable ones) so we just have to decide, policy wise, what matters most. If we can't have it all, what is at the top of the list? For me there are a few deal maker/breakers, including:
They must support religious freedoms.
They must not support elective abortions.
They must be supportive of parent's rights in the education of their children.
They must be supportive of policies that strengthen and promote the nuclear family.
I'm sure there are others but these immediately come to mind. There are also many that aren't deal breakers but I still really really want.
But in each of these instances Trump is far more likely than Biden (or those who pull his strings) to support these types of policies. I didn't vote for Trump the first time because of the kind of person he is but I have to admit that he acted more Conservative than any other president since Reagan and actually fulfilled some campaign promises that others only promised. 

Say what you will about Trump, he does indeed have many distasteful qualities. But at the end of the day the left promotes policies that are far more destructive of the family, society and the Constitution. Some of which are flat out EVIL. I personally cannot justify voting for that.
There are no good options right now (at least not viable ones) so we just have to decide, policy wise, what matters most. If we can't have it all, what is at the top of the list? For me there are a few deal maker/breakers, including:
They must support religious freedoms.
They must not support elective abortions.
They must be supportive of parent's rights in the education of their children.
They must be supportive of policies that strengthen and promote the nuclear family.
I'm sure there are others but these immediately come to mind. There are also many that aren't deal breakers but I still really really want.
But in each of these instances Trump is far more likely than Biden (or those who pull his strings) to support these types of policies. I didn't vote for Trump the first time because of the kind of person he is but I have to admit that he acted more Conservative than any other president since Reagan and actually fulfilled some campaign promises that others only promised. 

It's been a while since I've read much in the Old Testament but the story of ancient Israel being lead out of captivity, rejecting God, traveling in the wilderness for many years before entering into the promised land is a theme we find all throughout the history of God working His children. It's found all through the scriptures, in the temple, our own church history, and in our individual lives to one degree or another. 
We have stake conference this weekend and one of the speakers in the adult session yesterday referenced Moses ascending up into Mount Sinai to commune with God. It got me thinking about how even though they eventually got into the promised land, the real destination was always in their midst, the temple or tabernacle. And while the temple became the center of their worship they always seem to struggle with moving beyond the physical manifestations of their beliefs into the things of the Spirit. So much so that when God/Jesus in a sense came down out of the mountain to them they still wanted nothing to do with Him unless He was willing to feed them like Moses did.
There are a lot of, I don't want to call them fringe benefits of the gospel because they are important, things like community and a shelter from the world and purpose, but at the end of the day we are individually being asked to ascend up into the mountain of the Lord and commune with Him. But we are sometimes content to just enjoy the manna that membership in the Church brings and ignore or procrastinate the most central point of it all, content in the idea that the promised land is some future destination, meanwhile it's in our very midst.

I attended Roots Tech here in Salt Lake City and came away quite inspired.  I have attended Roots Tech several times.  Jimmer (BYU basketball star) was there, and I had a chance to chat with him and his wife.  But that was not what inspired me.
The main purpose of Roots Tech is to inspire making connection to our ancestral roots and providing records for our posterity.   There are some things I do not talk much about.  With the emphasis on ancestral roots and posterity I thought to open a discussion about angles.  I have experienced the influence of angles.  I feel somewhat restrained and would point out that it is not uncommon that such visits are for the purposes of correction rather than congratulations.   My experiences are mostly centered on warnings.
I am the name’s sake of my great grandfather that died shortly before I was born.  There were a number of times I encountered the assistance of a guardian angel.  On one particular occasion I inquired who it was.  It was my great grandfather who’s name I carry.  That particular occasion was the last time I encountered him.  A few years later I encountered my brother that was lost to an accident a couple of months after completing his church mission. 
There are strong connections to families.  As I understand, the influence of our family members in our lives that have proceeded us is quite common despite the possibility that their influence is or may be often unrealized – including not realizing that many such influences are family relatives.   Sometimes our prayers are answered through various family relationships.
So I will stand as a witness that we do live in an age of angles.  I have often wondered if there are occasions where important encounters are with angles that we do not know other than a stranger we encounter during a time of need.  I am inclined to believe that such encounters are not limited to member of the LDS Church.
 
The Traveler

Amen. "Every member a missionary." Every disciple a representative of his/her Master. If a lost soul is to encounter Jesus it will often be through us. 

It is definitely a very big sign.  Almost over?  No, lots of things still have to happen, that is just a big red flag warning in my opinion.

And even then it wasn't one of the common ones people talk about.

My dad needs to avail himself of the temple work I did on his behalf after he passed.  Given his mindset during this life, that might be a major effort involving an awful lot of resources.  
I give this personal anecdote, not to make fun of my dearly departed dad, but to illustrate that we figure missionary work and conversion efforts continue to happen on the other side of the veil.  Given the oodles of unbaptized billions, it's surely no small feat.

This is Wilford Woodruff's account of a dream/vision he had of Joseph Smith:
“Joseph Smith continued visiting myself and others up to a certain time, and then it stopped.
The last time I saw him was in heaven. In the night vision I saw him at the door of the temple in heaven. He came and spoke to me. He said he could not stop to talk with me because he was in a hurry….
“By and by I saw the Prophet again, and I got the privilege to ask him a question. ‘Now,’ said I, ‘I want to know why you are in a hurry. I have been in a hurry all through my life; but I expected my hurry would be over when I got into the kingdom of heaven, if I ever did.’
 “Joseph said: ‘I will tell you, Brother Woodruff. Every dispensation that has had the Priesthood on the earth and has gone into the celestial kingdom, has had a certain amount of work to do to prepare to go to the earth with the Savior when He goes to reign on the earth. Each dispensation has had ample time to do this work. We have not. We are the last dispensation, and so much work has to be done, and we need to be in a hurry in order to accomplish it.’ Of course, that was satisfactory to me, but it was new doctrine to me.”
I am curious to know what exactly needs to be prepared on that side of the veil before the Second Coming. There are a few things I think we learn from this experience.
1. It is definitely connected to the priesthood as it only applies to dispensations that had the priesthood.
2. The Second Coming is partially dependent upon it being completed or ready. Or at least, those who will go with him are dependent upon it.
3. The fact that this interview took place at the door of the temple in heaven would seem to imply that it is temple related.
4. It may not be just about being ready for Jesus' coming but also His reign on the earth.
We know there is a lot of work for the dead taking place but that apparently will be happening all throughout the Millennium as well so I don't know that that is the reason for the hurry on the other side. Unless that work is needing to be done for specific individuals prior to the Second Coming. Maybe it's something connected with what will transpire in Adam-ondi-Ahman. 
It does make me wonder about the system of government that will exist during the Millennium. Christ will of course reign as King but how is the government setup under him? And will there be a separate religious leadership organization from the government body?

I will add what I have come to believe to this thread – for what it is worth.  I believe that the logic for one true and living church is no different from the logic used for the doctrine that there is only one true and living G-d.
There are, in my mind, many misconceptions both in attempts to explain what is true and living as there is in understanding what is and what divergent thinkers say on the subject.  Here is my effort.  If there is a true a living G-d – that being is the supreme Suzerain of law and order, especially the law and order of the kingdom over which that being resides.  Note that the term “Kingdom” is not my term, but the term used in scripture to describe that which G-d defines as his standard for his realm.
 I understand that we are flawed beings and therefore have flawed understanding of things.  Especially things pertaining to G-d and his kingdom.  It is my understanding that because we are flawed beings what happens between birth and death of any individual is not sufficient to understand or prepare for that which is eternal.  This is a primary reason why I understand the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and temple work and worship to be the only true and living church on the earth.  It is the only church doing work to redeem the dead and seal on earth that which will be sealed in Heaven.  It is also the only church I have encountered that has a good grasp on why there must be a pre-earth life existence as there needs to be post-earth live existence to prepare for eternity (though some come somewhat close).
There is one other principle in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that I believe demonstrates why it is the only true and living expression of the true and living G-d on this earth and realm of fallen beings but that is another discussion that ties into this principle that I have already presented.  Such that if one is doubtful of what has been described thus far – there is no logic to continue.
 
The Traveler

I think we could add to your list the fact that preparation takes time and sincerity. The practically overnight conversion of certain individuals in the scriptures are certainly not the norm. The five foolish virgins had a little advanced notice but it wasn't enough to fully get ready and likely would not have lead to permanent change anyway. When the bridegroom did finally appear they weren't necessarily surprised but they were still unprepared.

A couple years ago as I read about the cleansing of the temple I noticed Christ's mercy in the incident, specifically for the sellers of doves. The money changers I'm sure kept immaculate records, so they could easily sort out the mess later. Herd animals are often marked in some way and/or know their owner's voice, so they could be gathered.
But the doves... If they scattered they would be lost and income lost. What did Jesus do:
"And (Jesus) said unto them that sold doves, 'Take these things hence...'"
He wasn't there being mean, trying to destroy their livelihoods. They just needed to do it somewhere else.
ZealouslyStriving (Mosiah 27:35)

Since Christ is coming quickly, we can rule out the possibility that He's coming on the 904 bus from downtown.

When I think of this scripture a few things come to my mind. The first is when Christ said to Peter, paraphrased, "Before the cock crows thrice you will deny me thrice." The hour or time for this to come wasn't known but it did come quickly. In the moment, Peter could have easily seen what was happening, but it wasn't until the third crow that the prophesy did prick him.
This highlights that members of the Church who are not read (prepared for) the signs of Christ coming will come as a thief in the night. Also, Peter did not believe this would be the case, so when the cock was crowing his mental state dismissed the first and the second. For some, they will dismiss the signs because they do not believe these are the signs.
The second is that we are aware of a general assembly that will happen. We understand Adam will preside (if I'm remembering correctly) and Christ will come to his people at this assembly. These people will not be surprised as to the day and hour the Lord will come again. This brings back to my remembrance the words of Nephi when they were in a time of need and the Lord said, "Tomorrow I come into the world." (paraphrased)
If we believe in the signs, if we have studied the signs, we will be watching and we will be prepared. The Spirit, like with Nephi, will bare witness of the Lord's return to those who are listening. To those who are not, it will be similar to the Nephites at Christ's first coming to them. The Spirit spoke (or the Father here) and they comprehended it not. Or like Amulek, who said something to this nature the Lord did call but I did not listen.

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.