NeedleinA

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  1. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to NeuroTypical in Eating of Blood   
    iamlds, I wonder about your intentions.  I see you speak English as a second language.  But your posts make me wonder if more is going on here.
    When I think about who you might be, and what might motivate you, I have two mental images:
    1- You are an honest seeker of truth, confused by seeming contradiction in church counsel, and you are struggling to understand our responses.
    2- You are an activist vegetarian, coming here with the agenda to "prove" that LDS theology mandates vegetarianism, and are pushing your agenda.  You're not struggling to understand our responses, you are actively arguing against them.  Because you have an agenda to push.
    If #1 is correct, please read carefully - you have been given very sound answers to your questions and statements.
    If #2 is correct, you are being disingenuous.  Stop it.
    Have a good day! 
     
  2. Like
    NeedleinA got a reaction from Jane_Doe in Sharing with temple   
    I'm not an expert at all, but here is my understanding on this. If you are unable to physically go to the temple and do the work yourself, you can "share" your ancestors work with the temple in the hope that someone else needs names to do there. In a sense other patrons at the temple can help do the work for/with you. I believe the names simply sit on the "Share with Temple" list until someone, somewhere needs names. 
    It could be a week before someone picks them up.
    It could be 13 months, 2 years, 5 years before someone picks them up. 
    They just sit until said time. This gives you the possibility that someone else might do the work faster than you can get to it personally, but not the guarantee of it.
    Here is a link with further details. Hope this helps!
  3. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to Iggy in Eating of Blood   
    iamlds how long have you been a baptized member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints? And where are you living? I live in Oregon.
    Longer than 5 years? If so have you read the Ensign from back where there was a Question and Answer section? People would send in questions, and the Ensign would answer them.
    Well the book by Joseph Fielding Smith that you are quoting from is a compilation of Questions and Answers from the Improvement Era magazine which was from 1897 to 1970. The Ensign's first issue was in 1971. The New Era's first issue was also in 1971. The New Era is for the Young Men and Women.
    quote: In May 1953, Joseph Fielding Smith, later tenth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, began a series of monthly articles in the Improvement Era
    called "Your Questions." In these articles, he provided answers to some of the hundreds of questions he received from members of the Church and nonmembers alike. Starting in 1957, Deseret Book Company began publishing many of these questions and answers in a five-volume series entitled
    Answers to Gospel Questions.
    <snip> Answers to Gospel Questions provides definitive answers to some of the most important and interesting questions asked by students of the gospel. In this volume, you will find information on topics ranging from sin to sacrament, from forgiveness to Fall, from marriage to miracles. You will also find answers to many intriguing gospel questions, including: Why did God create a world where suffering exists? What is the nature of miracles? How do we know we have a Mother in Heaven? Why do little children partake of the sacrament? Does the devil have power to tempt departed spirits? What is the doctrine of plural gods?

    It is hoped that in providing this new edition of the well-loved classic, Deseret Book Company can help members of the Church as well as nonmembers find the answers they need to better understand the gospel of Jesus Christ.~ End Quote
    It states clearly that Joseph Fielding Smith is answering questions on a very wide range of church related topics. He is not declaring new doctrine. Deseret Book is not publishing or selling *False Doctrine*.
    I have spent nearly two hours on the internet trying to find your quote without having to spend 30$ to get it and read it. I did however find a site that gives another reason for the not eating blood. http://www.gotquestions.org/eating-drinking-blood.html 
    quote ~ The Bible’s first prohibition against consuming blood comes in Genesis 9:2-4, where God tells Noah, "Everything that lives and moves about will be food for you. Just as I gave you the green plants, I now give you everything. But you must not eat meat that has its lifeblood still in it." This prohibition was most likely a ban on eating raw blood (i.e., uncooked meat). For the first time, animals were an allowable food source, and God was making sure that Noah did not eat them raw. A Jewish Targum comments on this verse: "But the flesh which is torn from a living beast at the time that its life is in it, or which is torn from a beast while it is slain, before all its breath is gone out, ye shall not eat."

    Later, the prohibition of Genesis 9:4 is iterated in the Law of Moses. Leviticus 17:14 gives the reason behind command: “For the life of every creature is its blood: its blood is its life.” ~ end quote
    I believe that this is what is meant - do not eat/drink/consume raw blood, nor eat of meat that is raw. No doctrine. Just good common sense health wise.
  4. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to Vort in Eating of Blood   
    You really want to put yourself in the position of passing judgment over our local leaders?
    Fair enough.
    I am not addicted to eating blood. I say it is not the dire moral problem you make it out to be.
    Hope that helps.
  5. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to estradling75 in Eating of Blood   
    Was he a prophet when he wrote the book? (No) Did the church publish the book? (No).  Did he claim "thus sayth the Lord" for the book? (No).
     
    People have agency even General Authorities... They are allowed to have personal opinion and understanding.  The Saints are instructed so they can know when something is of God and when it is not.  Then we are instructed to learn more and dig deeper for personal revelation.  But personal revelation is just that "personal"  it is not our place to try to enforce (or otherwise preach) a personal revelation on to the rest of the church.
    Or to put it more bluntly... If God wanted the stop the consuming of blood by members of his church he has a very simple and straight forward means of doing so.  God has not done so, and unless you think you are wiser the God you need to stop preaching what is not your place to preach and rendering judgement against the Lord's anointed that it is not your place to render.
     
     
     
  6. Like
    NeedleinA got a reaction from NeuroTypical in Eating of Blood   
    Estradling75 has already explained this.
    It isn't that Pres. Smith is giving true or false doctrine necessarily, it is that he is giving his "opinion". The book, Answers to Gospel Questions is not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is a personal book giving the thoughts and ideas of JFS. This is similar to "Mormon Doctrine" by Bruce R. McConnkie. The title even says "Mormon Doctrine", HOWEVER, the book contains the opinions of Elder McConnkie. While it is true that his opinions may also be spot on in agreement with official doctrine of the church, that does not mean all of his personal opinions are. 
    From the publisher of book (Answers to Gospel Questions) Deseret Book: link  (see the RED part below)
    "Answers to Gospel Questions, vol. 4 
    JOSEPH FIELDING SMITH
    © 1963 Deseret Book Company
    All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the publisher, Deseret Book Company, P.O. Box 30178, Salt Lake City, Utah 84130. This work is not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The views expressed herein are the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the position of the Church or of Deseret Book Company."
     
  7. Like
    NeedleinA got a reaction from Vort in Eating of Blood   
    Estradling75 has already explained this.
    It isn't that Pres. Smith is giving true or false doctrine necessarily, it is that he is giving his "opinion". The book, Answers to Gospel Questions is not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is a personal book giving the thoughts and ideas of JFS. This is similar to "Mormon Doctrine" by Bruce R. McConnkie. The title even says "Mormon Doctrine", HOWEVER, the book contains the opinions of Elder McConnkie. While it is true that his opinions may also be spot on in agreement with official doctrine of the church, that does not mean all of his personal opinions are. 
    From the publisher of book (Answers to Gospel Questions) Deseret Book: link  (see the RED part below)
    "Answers to Gospel Questions, vol. 4 
    JOSEPH FIELDING SMITH
    © 1963 Deseret Book Company
    All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the publisher, Deseret Book Company, P.O. Box 30178, Salt Lake City, Utah 84130. This work is not an official publication of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The views expressed herein are the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the position of the Church or of Deseret Book Company."
     
  8. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to LeSellers in The creation   
    You are correct. But you are incorrect.
    There is no reason to discount the possibility that Kolob is Jesus Christ and a planet. One being in the image of the other.
    Lehi
  9. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to David13 in Your Family Tree's Church Activity?   
    I'm the lone member of anyone ever even remotely related to me, that I know of.
    I was divorced and my ex passed away, I haven't remarried, my parents and all others are dead or far away.  I only joined the church last year.
    I have been aware of the church since 1963 on a visit to Salt Lake.  My mother was a MTChoir fan. 
    I was raised as a catholic but was inactive all my adult life.
    I am being called to Utah and was called into the church.  I guess it was an answer to a prayer to find a way to better prepare for the final day of mortal life.
    So far it's all working great.
    dc
  10. Like
    NeedleinA got a reaction from David13 in Your Family Tree's Church Activity?   
    And that is okay! We are happy to have a mighty green Sunday21! Your green simply means you might fit into the top of the Family Tree waiting for your generations of green to follow
  11. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to mirkwood in Your Family Tree's Church Activity?   
    My wife and kids and I are active.  I come from a part member and heavily inactive family.  Mom was an active member. Dad is a non member and so is his entire family.  Mom's parents and sister inactive.  Everyone else married non members.    Mom remarried an active member and was married in the temple.
  12. Like
    NeedleinA got a reaction from Sunday21 in Your Family Tree's Church Activity?   
    And that is okay! We are happy to have a mighty green Sunday21! Your green simply means you might fit into the top of the Family Tree waiting for your generations of green to follow
  13. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to David13 in Your Family Tree's Church Activity?   
    You people really make me feel left out.
    In my tree, church activity, in this church    ...   zero.  0.  None.  Nothing. 
    dc
  14. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to Vort in C. Scott Grow   
    Needle, it was for the West and Northwest regions. I believe it included Hawaii, Alaska, southern BC, Washington, Oregon, and I think California. It must also have included at least part of Idaho, since my son at BYU-I watched it. It was announced what areas were included, but someone spoke to me right then, so I missed it.
  15. Like
    NeedleinA got a reaction from Vort in Eating of Blood   
    My grandma has the best recipe for JELL-O blood pudding, suspended fruit and whip cream on top at family reunions.  Oddly enough she is going on 125 years old now for some reason.
  16. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to estradling75 in Eating of Blood   
    Because you need to understand what it takes to make something official.  The first Presidency and the Quorum of the 12 meet regularly to prayerfully seek the will of God and discuss what needs to be done.   When they all reach an agreement on what needs to be done(what the Lord would have them do) then it becomes binding.  This unity or oneness is essential.
    One person no matter how important they are or will become can circumvent the they way the Lord has it set up, no matter how many books they publish or how authoritative they sound.
    The modern day Law of Health that has gone through this process in this dispensation is the Word of Wisdom.  The Word of Wisdom does not contain a restriction on consuming blood. (Beyond the General admonishment to be wise). This is the only Law of Health that is Binding on the Church as a whole.
     
     
     
     
  17. Like
    NeedleinA got a reaction from Vort in Your Family Tree's Church Activity?   
    Thank you Vort and Anatess for sharing your thoughts! As I look at the diagram I just made last night and read over everyone else's family trees it makes me think about two things:
    1. A perfect parent, our Father in Heaven, despite his efforts, unfortunately still had issues with "a third part of the host of heaven". What "a third part" actually means, I don't know? 1/3 or 33.3333%? Or of 3 groups/parts of his children the 3rd group/part was lost and the number contained therein is really unknown? I've heard it discussed both ways and I really don't know the correct answer. Either way, even despite our best efforts, we may still lose some of our children to inactivity for "a season" or for good.
    2. Lastly. There is an obscure quote that I read several years ago by Joseph Smith.
    "Lillie Freeze
    We should post ourselves regarding the prophecies that have been predicted. I will mention one in particular that was uttered by the Prophet Joseph Smith, he said the time would come when none but the women of the Latter-day Saints would be willing to bear children.
    Lillie Freeze, “Remarks at the Y. L. M. I. Conference of Box Elder Stake,” Young Woman’s Journal2, no. 2 (November 1890): 81."
    It makes me wonder how this prophecy would actually take place? Is it even still in force? What events/causes would lead to this? As I look at my grandparents family tree, I can see what one might see as the start of it, as those inactive members are far too worried about "self" let alone getting married, or having children. Any thoughts?
  18. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to bytor2112 in Advertising myself as a Mormon musician. Good? Bad?   
    I am a Mormon musician ....my audience today consists primarily of (2) long haired wiener dogs that seem to still enjoy my rendition of Spirit of Radio and Eruption....
  19. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to AngelMarvel in Yikes! What I did while the forum was down...   
    What I did while the forum was down... I clicked a couple times a day to see if it was up. Then I realized that I don't even know anyone on this forum well enough to be on their FB or other social media, so had no way to contact anyone and felt kinda out of sorts. LOL. But... that's my own doing. I'm mostly a lurker here, but do enjoy being a member. Was glad when it came back up.
    I also own my own graphics forum, so spent more time there doing what I do best with graphics. LOL
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
  20. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to Vort in Your Family Tree's Church Activity?   
    Grandparents: Both sets were active by the standards of their day.
    Parents' generation: On my Mom's side, two or perhaps three siblings were/are active, one or two are semiactive, and one is inactive. On my Dad's side, one brother left the Church, one sister was inactive or nominally active, and I believe the rest were active. Only three still survive, and I believe all are active.
    My generation (siblings and cousins): One brother has left the Church in all but the records; the rest of us siblings are at least nominally active. Of my enate (mother's side) cousins: Each famliy (aunt and uncle) has at least two children who would be considered active. Several cousins are nominally active but in reality are not really converted and are in that danger zone of complaining about the Church and showing their friends how enlightened they really are in supporting current social trends such as homosexuality normalization. Several have completely left the Church, at least in effect and in a few cases in actual fact. Of my agnate (father's side) cousins, some have completely left the Church, some are marginal, and quite a few are strong and committed.
    Next generation (children, nieces, and nephews): So far, my own children are active and committed, and I have no reason to believe they will choose otherwise any time in the near future. Ditto with one sister's children. The one who has left the Church has no children. Of the others, each has one child still active, the other or others having gone inactive or totally disclaiming the Church. Heartbreaking, really. My cousins' children seem to be running the same gamut -- though there is a very pronounced tendency for faithful cousins to have faithful children and cousins weaker in the faith to have children uninterested in religious observance.
    The more generations go by, the more loved ones we appear to be losing. I say "appear" because I can't see into the hearts of ancestors or my own living relatives; it's all I can do to track my own beliefs and motivations and those of my children.
  21. Like
    NeedleinA got a reaction from Vort in Your Family Tree's Church Activity?   
    And that is okay! We are happy to have a mighty green Sunday21! Your green simply means you might fit into the top of the Family Tree waiting for your generations of green to follow
  22. Like
    NeedleinA got a reaction from Vort in Mixed feelings on suicide   
    Today's lesson in Priesthood/Relief Society was related to "Adversity". Our instructor in High Priest lost his teenage daughter to suicide about 7 months ago, so it is still very heavy on his heart. He shared how he has found solace in the statement you made above and by the fact that he has to see things in the eternal timeline not just in the now. 
    Knowing of his lose a couple of months ago, I read a wonderful talk on suicide by Elder Ballard: Suicide: Some Things We Know, and Some We Do Not
    Our High Priest Instructor, and my personal dear friend, played the following video for us as well: The Refiner's Fire
    May our Heavenly Father bless you mcurtis80. Thank you for posting and we hope you will stick around and share with us all in many areas on the forums. 
  23. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to Sunday21 in Your Family Tree's Church Activity?   
    Only greeny in a seas of atheists!
  24. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to classylady in Your Family Tree's Church Activity?   
    Very interesting.  And, the same would hold true for my family.  In my family, if the parents were inactive almost all of the children were also inactive.  And, even if they had their own children baptized into the church, the next generation didn't.  The following generation doesn't consider themselves LDS at all, while their parents, even if inactive, did acknowledge the church, even though inactive. 
  25. Like
    NeedleinA reacted to mcurtis80 in Mixed feelings on suicide   
    I first just wanted to thank everyone for their comments on this page. I came across this forum and felt like it was time to share some of what I've been dealing with over the years. I haven't had a chance to do this much, so I hope my words will at least be somewhat applicable to what's already been discussed. I've never posted in a forum, so please bear with me. I'm currently in a program offered by the LDS church, specifically through BYU-Idaho called Pathway. It's an educational opportunity that I've needed for years to get back into studying and school. I love it and it has caused me to do some serious thinking this week about my life, what's happened in it, and how God has used symbolism to touch me in a way that was specific to me.
    When I was 16, my brother-law committed suicide. A few years later, another brother-in-law took his life. Over Easter weekend of 2014, my sister took her life. While each suicide affected me in some way, shape or form over the years, this last one was really hard for me and my family. She was my buddy, my sis and my friend. I can't begin to imagine what it would have been like if we would have been able to be inside her head, thinking the thoughts, feeling the feelings, being present inside her mind during those most difficult times. I think about my parents, her kids, my other siblings, her co-workers, and get overwhelmed sometimes, even still, with the thoughts that must race through their minds knowing she's gone. Yep, I stress about what other people might be stressing about, lol.
    On the day of my sister's funeral, I prayed. I prayed a lot. After the interment, my wife had to take my son home, and I was going to my parent's place, so we drove separately. I was alone in my car on the drive home and I prayed some more. I cried out to God that in some way I might have a reassurance that she was doing okay; that she was safe. That's all I wanted. As I was coming around a bend on the freeway, I looked out to the west in the Salt Lake valley and saw the most amazing, beautiful and vibrant sunset I had ever seen in my life. Ever. I've seen plenty of sunsets, but it is my belief that on that day, at that moment, God had made that one just for me. I'm a man in my thirties, so call it cheesy and cliché if you will, but that one was mine and it was God saying, "She's okay." I just needed those two words. I believe God has the ability to speak to us using symbols throughout our lives. Has anyone else ever had an experience similar to this? A similar thing happened to me after the first suicide happened in our family.
    Our family has had our share of mixed feelings too like Bini pointed out. My Dad reminds me all the time that he's still mad. My other sister wants to smack her upside the head, and I still can't believe she's gone. I watch her two adult sons struggle all the time with it and don't know how to help them.
    What I want to express most though is that I know I couldn't be pushing along like I have had it not been for a firm belief that I'll be okay, that she's okay and that things are in God's hands. This week in our class, I read this scripture which has given me some relief, hope and joy, knowing that God is in charge. I know it wasn't referring to suicide in the verse, but it sure hit home considering what I've shared above:
    "O how great the goodness of our God, who prepareth a way for our escape from the grasp of this awful monster." - 2 Nephi 9:10, Book of Mormon
    I know I'll see her again. I wish I could have talked with her more. I know we all struggle when it happens close around us. For those of you that have had this happen in your family, how are you doing? How are you dealing with it?