CV75

I believe the most incipient motivator for us to even survive, alone thrive, is the light of Christ. D&C 88 teaches that Jesus “comprehended all things, that he might be in all and through all things, the light of truth; 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. As also he is in the moon, and is the light of the moon, and the power thereof by which it was made; As also the light of the stars, and the power thereof by which they were made; And the earth also, and the power thereof, even the earth upon which you stand. 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; Which light proceedeth forth from the presence of God to fill the immensity of space—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.”

So what we might call the most basic instinct to survive is the light of Christ. Beyond this, depending on our developmental and mental capacity to receive and apply the light of Christ, is our conscience, which stimulates our intellect toward making and enacting morally good choices. The light of Christ eventually leads on to accept the Gospel once it is presented, at which point one can sense the power of and receive the witness of the Holy Ghost, and upon baptism the gift of the Holy Ghost, the baptism of fire and the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. This prepares us for the sanctification by grace to return to dwell in God’s presence.

The perfect plan recognizes that there is always opposition in all thins, and leverages the inevitable presence of evil actors. Lucifer, through his prideful choices, assumed the role of the most evil actor, which includes not tiring of the role (at least as far as we are concerned, for someday he will be bound). Each sphere or estate has its “moment of fixation” as you put it. This point of no return, at least in coming into this world, was in the outcome that battle in heaven, which was as much an individual battle as it is here. In this world, the point of no return is the resurrection, which occurs after we have dies and had a full opportunity to receive and “live according to God in the Spirit.”

We can certainly make evil decisions without a devil. Our mortality and flawed intelligence is certainly in opposition to God’s eternal life and perfection. But that does not change the fact that in our world, there is a devil, and that he entices us to do evil as much as the Lord entices us to do good. To deny that would deny the extent of the Son’s infinite and eternal sacrifice and prove to be a stumbling block in a world where the devil definitely acts.

In an alternate universe, who knows? But there will always be a place to which the rebellious spirits will be sent, and they will seek to do as much damage as possible, and will need to be defeated by someone that possesses more than a mortal perspective and power. Something doesn't have to be as strong as the juxtaposed principle in order to be in opposition. For example, the devil will never be as strong as God; it is us that might make him so due to our relative lack of perspective (the veil). Yet we can submit ourselves to him when we rebel against God.

We do not say that the Holy Spirit has more prominence in our Church. We say we have the restored keys to perform the saving ordinances including the bestowal of the gift of the Holy Ghost after baptism.

We do not say the Holy Ghost is felt to a lesser extent through other religions. We say the power of the Holy Ghost as a witness of the truth can be felt by anyone of any (or no) religion.

Granted, no one can do anything without bias. But the Lord will bless the pure in heart that honor His light, and upon hearing His word they will eventually discover the power and witness of the Holy Ghost. People of all (or no) faith traditions can do that without rigorous cross-examination.

The honoring of God's truth in all its forms is not a purely rational process, “for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings [Greek: “sightings”] which cannot be uttered.” (Romans 8:26). So the approach is to cleave to whatever light and truth we have come our way, or have sought out regardless of how we like the answer.

I think it is both keeping a journal on this side of the veil and helping our descendants from the other side of the veil after we pass on, ironically which begins with keeping a faithful records of God's dealings with us in this life!

So in that good ole Malachi 4:6 scripture stating "And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, and the heart of the children to their fathers", we have constantly related that to family history work and the "children" seeking out the "fathers" and doing their temple work. But what about the hearts of the Fathers to the children? Where does that come in? Does it just reference relationship building for those living? Or those in the spirit world looking to the children doing their work? 
I have recently come to the conclusion that the "heart of the fathers to the children" was referencing journal keeping among other things. What are your thoughts? has this day come?
Lastly, do you keep a journal? If not, what is your justification for not doing so? I haven't found a good justification to not keep a regular journal yet and would like to use someone else's if they have one
 

John the Baptist’s procedure in ordaining Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery to the Aaronic Priesthood involved, first, his conferring the priesthood upon them, followed by their baptizing each other and then his instructing them to lay hands on each other and confer the priesthood that the angel had recently bestowed. Among the reasons suggested for this unusual pattern, other than “for so we were commanded,” are the following:
“First, to confer the Priesthood before baptism, is contrary to the order of the organized Church, therefore they were commanded to confer the Priesthood upon each other in the regular way; after they were baptized. Second, the angel did for them that which they could not do for themselves. There was no one living in mortality who held the keys of this Priesthood, therefore it was necessary that this messenger, who held the keys of the Aaronic Priesthood in the Dispensation of the Meridian of Time, should be sent to confer this power. It is contrary to the order of heaven for those who have passed beyond the veil to officiate and labor for the living on the earth, only wherein mortal man cannot act, and thereby it becomes necessary for those who have passed through the resurrection to act for them. Otherwise John would have followed the regular order, which is practiced in the Church, and would have first baptized Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery and then conferred upon them the Aaronic Priesthood.”
https://www.lds.org/ensign/1996/12/the-restoration-of-the-aaronic-and-melchizedek-priesthoods?lang=eng
 

John the Baptist’s procedure in ordaining Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery to the Aaronic Priesthood involved, first, his conferring the priesthood upon them, followed by their baptizing each other and then his instructing them to lay hands on each other and confer the priesthood that the angel had recently bestowed. Among the reasons suggested for this unusual pattern, other than “for so we were commanded,” are the following:
“First, to confer the Priesthood before baptism, is contrary to the order of the organized Church, therefore they were commanded to confer the Priesthood upon each other in the regular way; after they were baptized. Second, the angel did for them that which they could not do for themselves. There was no one living in mortality who held the keys of this Priesthood, therefore it was necessary that this messenger, who held the keys of the Aaronic Priesthood in the Dispensation of the Meridian of Time, should be sent to confer this power. It is contrary to the order of heaven for those who have passed beyond the veil to officiate and labor for the living on the earth, only wherein mortal man cannot act, and thereby it becomes necessary for those who have passed through the resurrection to act for them. Otherwise John would have followed the regular order, which is practiced in the Church, and would have first baptized Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery and then conferred upon them the Aaronic Priesthood.”
https://www.lds.org/ensign/1996/12/the-restoration-of-the-aaronic-and-melchizedek-priesthoods?lang=eng
 

I think it possible that the Lord allows no unaccountable person to die that has not already proven himself worthy not only of celestial, but of exalted life. The others He miraculously spares to live to accountability. Those responsible for innocent blood or innocents’ deaths that were prevented by God are judged according to their own level of accountability.
Now I’ll read what Gramps has to say.
Edited: I think I was a bit more succinct.

John the Baptist conferred the power of the Aaronic Priesthood upon Joseph and Oliver so that they may have the proper authority to perform baptisms.  But John the Baptist did not ordain them to a Priesthood office.  Joseph and Oliver performed that ordination.

The OP made me think of church lessons I've listened to and how often they seem to become like this thread. Then I remembered that my very first exposure to the word (empathy) was via the original Star Trek television series episode “The Empath”.  The title character was an alien who possessed a power to heal other beings’ physical suffering—but she could exercise her power only via taking others’ suffering on herself. I found it significant that she didn’t seem to have the power of speech. I liked the episode because it made me think about things I hadn't considered, and I don’t recall that it made any effort to draw contrasts with sympathy. The impact on my introspection (since I couldn’t actually heal the way she could) was to ponder the extent to which for me to emulate empathy might involve quiet and physical contact. Some of my experiences attempting it have been personal pearls. 
 
 

Your OP doesn’t come across as missing the value of empathy only as questioning (A) your ability to experience it and (B) its relationship to the love and compassion you already possess. I did not consider these as indicators of your needing to be convinced it is of value. Maybe I lack empathy! LOL.
I recall a general conference talk where the speaker said in so many words, “We may not experience or understand your pain in every detail, but know that we love you and we do know Someone who does. He can help us support you, and He will support you.” To me this exemplifies "enough" empathy where the recipient can be brought to feel and obtain the love and support they need.

Your OP doesn’t come across as missing the value of empathy only as questioning (A) your ability to experience it and (B) its relationship to the love and compassion you already possess. I did not consider these as indicators of your needing to be convinced it is of value. Maybe I lack empathy! LOL.
I recall a general conference talk where the speaker said in so many words, “We may not experience or understand your pain in every detail, but know that we love you and we do know Someone who does. He can help us support you, and He will support you.” To me this exemplifies "enough" empathy where the recipient can be brought to feel and obtain the love and support they need.

A true saint right here

Pay it every 36.525 days.

Pay it every 36.525 days.

Yes, we pass those things down, sometimes even genetically as the things we do in interacting with our environment and the things we take into our bodies sometimes alter our genes (for better or worse).

Excuse me for misinterpreting the purpose of your thread.

I do not know (Genesis 3;6 and Moses 4:12 allow for some time for her to "see" the various counterpoints to the command not to partake), but she was still beguiled according to the records, and I'm suggesting that includes being uncertain as to the validity of the original command not to partake. The devil doesn't only introduce doubt about God and His words, but doubt about ourselves and what we think we hear, see and should do.

I think neither the Father, Son nor Holy Ghost can be omnipotent with regards to the immortality and eternal life of man without each other, working in perfectly. Neither the Son nor Holy Ghost can function at all toward this work and glory without the direction of the Father, and He cannot accomplish His work without Them. They each may seem omnipotent relative to us, but God gave us our agency, and so is not omnipotent in that micro-sphere (He will not override our agency).
Our doctrine contains such principles as: the Son can do nothing without the Father, or only does what He sees the Father do; the Only Begotten Son in the flesh had to atone for our sins and not the Father; we have both a Comforter and a Second Comforter, etc. The Father manifests Himself personally in the Celestial Kingdom but not in the Telestial; the Holy Ghost administers that kingdom.
I think They become one in ability only when They are united. For example, the Father delivered all things into the Son's hands, and the Holy Ghost reveals the other Two to mortals (whether in bearing witness of the Father and the Son or in quickening the beholder to see Them).

That's right -- it's really just a matter of degree. And the daydream could also be a point Tevye simply passed along in his pondering more noble desires. Light -hearted entertainment often helps us touch on more serious issues of the human condition privately. The last verse of the song could be a interesting Sunday School discussion:
If I were rich, I'd have the time that I lack
To sit in the synagogue and pray.
And maybe have a seat by the Eastern wall.
And I'd discuss the holy books with the learned men, several hours every day.
That would be the sweetest thing of all.
Is being rich really that necessary for worship? Considering Tevye's poverty, is not having enough a barrier to worship?

I suppose the daydream is to coveting as lust is to adultery, or anger/hate is to killing. This is why we are to pray as the Spirit directs (D&C 8:10, 88:65).

That's right -- it's really just a matter of degree. And the daydream could also be a point Tevye simply passed along in his pondering more noble desires. Light -hearted entertainment often helps us touch on more serious issues of the human condition privately. The last verse of the song could be a interesting Sunday School discussion:
If I were rich, I'd have the time that I lack
To sit in the synagogue and pray.
And maybe have a seat by the Eastern wall.
And I'd discuss the holy books with the learned men, several hours every day.
That would be the sweetest thing of all.
Is being rich really that necessary for worship? Considering Tevye's poverty, is not having enough a barrier to worship?

I reckon that depends on how lustful your daydream is.  Sometimes a daydream is just a simple daydream and no harm in it.  If, on the other hand, it includes resentment, anger, pride, and other negative feelings and attitudes, then yeah, it's not a daydream anymore, it's something far worse.

I would add that He actually did die, and did watch His Church fall into apostasy, and there are those sons of perdition who thoroughly refuse and reject Him. He may not have failed in the long run, or in Himself, but He certainly passed through failure.

I would add that He actually did die, and did watch His Church fall into apostasy, and there are those sons of perdition who thoroughly refuse and reject Him. He may not have failed in the long run, or in Himself, but He certainly passed through failure.