CV75

Every time I hear his name, I think of the smoker's tooth polish.
 
 

LOL I almost took that part out of the quote for that very reason... can't find true doctrine on "Baby Names.com" anymore!

Of as commonly referred to in certain circles, "Fiddlah!" as in "Have you seen Fiddlah!" It's great!" And the led in the movie was played by an Israeli actor named Chiam Topol! He also played the Pope in another film LOL

I understand. That is why I prefaced my remarks with, " Without getting into the various ways a family can be structured..."
Still, "No family can exist without a woman bearing a child..." because that is how the Lord set the pattern with Adam and Eve, That is how families -- of any kind --  started in our world, with Eve bearing children, and that is how I suppose it continues in exaltation, with the continuation of the seeds forever.
Now that we have "all the children" coming into the earth through Adam and Eve (but especially through Eve as the vessel), the women, as daughters of Eve, are still the heart of their homes, just as I'm sure your daughter-in-law is the heart of their home.
This is how I take the statements referred to in the first post.

Being from a long line of non-Mormons, we had "milk toast" given to us by our grandmother whenever we had a stomach ache [note to self: don't say you have a stomach ache!): toast in a bowl of milk with sugar. She was "Pennsylvania Dutch" and her family lines (Scots-Irish and German) had been in the USA since the mid-1800s. it wasn't bad, but not worth admitting you're sick for! Her grape soda ice cream sodas were much better LOL

"Scientists have analyzed the statements that astronauts have made when they see Earth from above, and landed on a common, powerful theme: a sense of awe and transcendence."
http://www.sciencenewsline.com/news/2016041915010037.html
I wonder if this is what Abraham and Moses felt!

http://publications.mi.byu.edu/fullscreen/?pub=1123&index=15

“Here is an interesting description from the Apocalypse of Abraham. Abraham is taken on a wonderful journey (just as much science fiction begins with the wonderful journey). The whole field of testamentary literature and testaments has seen many discoveries recently, and we learn that any prophet you can name, and any apostle, has a testament; and that testament always ends with a great trip, a guided tour through the universe. The prophet or apostle usually gets in a vessel of some sort, in which he travels around, inspecting things). Guided by an angel, Abraham passes with violent winds to heaven above the firmament. He sees an indescribably mighty light, and within the light there is a vast, seething fire; and within the fire is a great host of moving, changing forms—moving within each other—of mighty forms that exchange with each other and constantly change their forms, as they go and come and alter themselves. They seem to call out to each other, in strange, confused noises.” -- Apocalypse of Abraham 15:3-7, in OTP 1:696.

Or Joseph Smith:

“I looked upon the sun the glorious luminary of the earth and also the moon rolling in their magesty through the heavens and also the stars shining in their courses and the earth also upon which I stood and the beast of the field and the fowls of heaven and the fish of the waters and also man walking forth upon the face of the earth in magesty and in the strength of beauty whose power and intiligence in governing the things . . . are so exceding great and marvilous even in the likeness of him who created <them>.” -- Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, 5

The LDS take a similar approach to scripture. The Lord’s servants are “called by his ordination to proclaim the everlasting gospel, by the Spirit of the living God, from people to people, and from land to land, in the congregations of the wicked, in their synagogues, reasoning with and expounding all scriptures unto them. And, behold, and lo, this is an ensample unto all those who were ordained unto this priesthood, whose mission is appointed unto them to go forth—And this is the ensample unto them, that they shall speak as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost. And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation.” (D&C 68:1-4).

The LDS take a similar approach to scripture. The Lord’s servants are “called by his ordination to proclaim the everlasting gospel, by the Spirit of the living God, from people to people, and from land to land, in the congregations of the wicked, in their synagogues, reasoning with and expounding all scriptures unto them. And, behold, and lo, this is an ensample unto all those who were ordained unto this priesthood, whose mission is appointed unto them to go forth—And this is the ensample unto them, that they shall speak as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost. And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation.” (D&C 68:1-4).

The LDS take a similar approach to scripture. The Lord’s servants are “called by his ordination to proclaim the everlasting gospel, by the Spirit of the living God, from people to people, and from land to land, in the congregations of the wicked, in their synagogues, reasoning with and expounding all scriptures unto them. And, behold, and lo, this is an ensample unto all those who were ordained unto this priesthood, whose mission is appointed unto them to go forth—And this is the ensample unto them, that they shall speak as they are moved upon by the Holy Ghost. And whatsoever they shall speak when moved upon by the Holy Ghost shall be scripture, shall be the will of the Lord, shall be the mind of the Lord, shall be the word of the Lord, shall be the voice of the Lord, and the power of God unto salvation.” (D&C 68:1-4).

I think a good question to ask oneself periodically is, “how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?” from Mosiah Chapter 5. I take idolatry to be any practice, thought, desire, etc. that makes us a stranger to God (for it is us, and not the object, that makes us idolaters).

I think this is why it often compared to adultery: “how knoweth a man the [wife] whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?”

For a more scholarly treatment: https://www.lds.org/manual/old-testament-student-manual-genesis-2-samuel/enrichment-section-f-idolatry-ancient-and-modern?lang=eng


As far as artistic depictions of God, I do not take them to be idols because He is the focus of the subject matter and I know whom I serve, and seek the companionship of, and try to keep close to the thoughts and intents of my heart.

LOL I'm just glad they didn't use the prefix "totally" and the suffix "dude!"

I'm not qualified to speak for everybody, but this is what I taught my kids:
You believe in God because I do.  That's how it is supposed to be.  But, eventually, you will have to transition out of that into believing in God despite of what I believe.  Therefore, you will need to build your own testimony of Faith.  So, the first question is - Is there a God?  I say that there is.  You deposit a measure of faith that there is.  Unless that faith bears no fruit, then there's no reason to abandon it.... because the next question is much harder... Why am I here?  The answer to that question will greatly depend on your faith in the answer to the 1st.  Deposit some faith in what I tell you is Why you're here.  Unless that faith bears no fruit, then there's no reason to abandon it...
So, as you can see... I teach my kids to build their testimony through life's big questions... little by little, step by step.  Since babyhood.
 
Full Disclosure:  I am also a Catholic convert to LDS.

"Scientists have analyzed the statements that astronauts have made when they see Earth from above, and landed on a common, powerful theme: a sense of awe and transcendence."
http://www.sciencenewsline.com/news/2016041915010037.html
I wonder if this is what Abraham and Moses felt!

http://publications.mi.byu.edu/fullscreen/?pub=1123&index=15

“Here is an interesting description from the Apocalypse of Abraham. Abraham is taken on a wonderful journey (just as much science fiction begins with the wonderful journey). The whole field of testamentary literature and testaments has seen many discoveries recently, and we learn that any prophet you can name, and any apostle, has a testament; and that testament always ends with a great trip, a guided tour through the universe. The prophet or apostle usually gets in a vessel of some sort, in which he travels around, inspecting things). Guided by an angel, Abraham passes with violent winds to heaven above the firmament. He sees an indescribably mighty light, and within the light there is a vast, seething fire; and within the fire is a great host of moving, changing forms—moving within each other—of mighty forms that exchange with each other and constantly change their forms, as they go and come and alter themselves. They seem to call out to each other, in strange, confused noises.” -- Apocalypse of Abraham 15:3-7, in OTP 1:696.

Or Joseph Smith:

“I looked upon the sun the glorious luminary of the earth and also the moon rolling in their magesty through the heavens and also the stars shining in their courses and the earth also upon which I stood and the beast of the field and the fowls of heaven and the fish of the waters and also man walking forth upon the face of the earth in magesty and in the strength of beauty whose power and intiligence in governing the things . . . are so exceding great and marvilous even in the likeness of him who created <them>.” -- Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, 5

I find it funny that we need scientists to tell us, "Chinese astronauts were awed by looking at the earth from space because the sight was awesome."

LOL I'm just glad they didn't use the prefix "totally" and the suffix "dude!"

Yet even one of the astronauts sensed (as reported in another news source): “I had another feeling, that the Earth is like a vibrant, living thing,” Chinese astronaut said Yang Liu said, in one of the statements the authors included in the study. “I said to myself: this is the place we live, it’s really magical.” http://www.foxnews.com/science/2016/04/21/scientists-explain-astronauts-feeling-awe.html

Yet even one of the astronauts sensed (as reported in another news source): “I had another feeling, that the Earth is like a vibrant, living thing,” Chinese astronaut said Yang Liu said, in one of the statements the authors included in the study. “I said to myself: this is the place we live, it’s really magical.” http://www.foxnews.com/science/2016/04/21/scientists-explain-astronauts-feeling-awe.html

I grew up in NYC so never really saw a real night sky until I was a bit older. Although I remember asking as a very young child whether angels were in the moon, since I had the same sensation from even that (didn't grow up LDS). So as a new member of the Church, this is what I initially thought Joseph Smith was referring to when he said, "Could you gaze into heaven five minutes, you would know more than you would by reading all that ever was written on the subject" (TPJS, p. 324; cf. HC 6:50).

As far as these sensations go, I am also reminded of Abraham Facsimile 2, where the planets and stars borrow light, or serve as a transmitting medium of power one to another. At the very least, I take these feelings to be a manifestation of the Light of Christ.

"Scientists have analyzed the statements that astronauts have made when they see Earth from above, and landed on a common, powerful theme: a sense of awe and transcendence."
http://www.sciencenewsline.com/news/2016041915010037.html
I wonder if this is what Abraham and Moses felt!

http://publications.mi.byu.edu/fullscreen/?pub=1123&index=15

“Here is an interesting description from the Apocalypse of Abraham. Abraham is taken on a wonderful journey (just as much science fiction begins with the wonderful journey). The whole field of testamentary literature and testaments has seen many discoveries recently, and we learn that any prophet you can name, and any apostle, has a testament; and that testament always ends with a great trip, a guided tour through the universe. The prophet or apostle usually gets in a vessel of some sort, in which he travels around, inspecting things). Guided by an angel, Abraham passes with violent winds to heaven above the firmament. He sees an indescribably mighty light, and within the light there is a vast, seething fire; and within the fire is a great host of moving, changing forms—moving within each other—of mighty forms that exchange with each other and constantly change their forms, as they go and come and alter themselves. They seem to call out to each other, in strange, confused noises.” -- Apocalypse of Abraham 15:3-7, in OTP 1:696.

Or Joseph Smith:

“I looked upon the sun the glorious luminary of the earth and also the moon rolling in their magesty through the heavens and also the stars shining in their courses and the earth also upon which I stood and the beast of the field and the fowls of heaven and the fish of the waters and also man walking forth upon the face of the earth in magesty and in the strength of beauty whose power and intiligence in governing the things . . . are so exceding great and marvilous even in the likeness of him who created <them>.” -- Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, 5

Yet even one of the astronauts sensed (as reported in another news source): “I had another feeling, that the Earth is like a vibrant, living thing,” Chinese astronaut said Yang Liu said, in one of the statements the authors included in the study. “I said to myself: this is the place we live, it’s really magical.” http://www.foxnews.com/science/2016/04/21/scientists-explain-astronauts-feeling-awe.html

"Scientists have analyzed the statements that astronauts have made when they see Earth from above, and landed on a common, powerful theme: a sense of awe and transcendence."
http://www.sciencenewsline.com/news/2016041915010037.html
I wonder if this is what Abraham and Moses felt!

http://publications.mi.byu.edu/fullscreen/?pub=1123&index=15

“Here is an interesting description from the Apocalypse of Abraham. Abraham is taken on a wonderful journey (just as much science fiction begins with the wonderful journey). The whole field of testamentary literature and testaments has seen many discoveries recently, and we learn that any prophet you can name, and any apostle, has a testament; and that testament always ends with a great trip, a guided tour through the universe. The prophet or apostle usually gets in a vessel of some sort, in which he travels around, inspecting things). Guided by an angel, Abraham passes with violent winds to heaven above the firmament. He sees an indescribably mighty light, and within the light there is a vast, seething fire; and within the fire is a great host of moving, changing forms—moving within each other—of mighty forms that exchange with each other and constantly change their forms, as they go and come and alter themselves. They seem to call out to each other, in strange, confused noises.” -- Apocalypse of Abraham 15:3-7, in OTP 1:696.

Or Joseph Smith:

“I looked upon the sun the glorious luminary of the earth and also the moon rolling in their magesty through the heavens and also the stars shining in their courses and the earth also upon which I stood and the beast of the field and the fowls of heaven and the fish of the waters and also man walking forth upon the face of the earth in magesty and in the strength of beauty whose power and intiligence in governing the things . . . are so exceding great and marvilous even in the likeness of him who created <them>.” -- Personal Writings of Joseph Smith, 5

I think everyone might get something different out of it according to their need, but I take the particular verse as a general message of comfort and good cheer—that even though we may not see Him, He sees and watches over us and that by being in our midst, He understands the particulars and immediacy of our lives and is readily available to help. He tells us this so we can prepare ourselves to see Him and receive what He has to offer and His instructions on what to do.

I think everyone might get something different out of it according to their need, but I take the particular verse as a general message of comfort and good cheer—that even though we may not see Him, He sees and watches over us and that by being in our midst, He understands the particulars and immediacy of our lives and is readily available to help. He tells us this so we can prepare ourselves to see Him and receive what He has to offer and His instructions on what to do.

I think it is good to apply faith to the religious and spiritual questions we have, and that by faith the answers make sense. Exercising faith is how we gain knowledge of that which is good and true (Alma 32). I think questioning our (and others’) perception and understanding is a natural thing to do, which is why we need divine assistance in cultivating our spiritual senses. Divine assistance can also be obtained in how we handle religious points or claims of fact that we might question. For example:

“The Church is making great efforts to be transparent with the records we have, but after all we can publish, our members are sometimes left with basic questions that cannot be resolved by study. …Some things can be learned only by faith (see D&C 88:118). Our ultimate reliance must be on faith in the witness we have received from the Holy Ghost.”  https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/04/opposition-in-all-things?lang=eng

I also think divine assistance is necessary in discerning the respective roles of fact and truth in generating faith, and which facts and truths are essential for our salvation, and which is more essential.

As far as boundaries go, Alma 32 leaves that up to you (the presence or absence of the "swelling motions" described in Alma 32).

I think it is good to apply faith to the religious and spiritual questions we have, and that by faith the answers make sense. Exercising faith is how we gain knowledge of that which is good and true (Alma 32). I think questioning our (and others’) perception and understanding is a natural thing to do, which is why we need divine assistance in cultivating our spiritual senses. Divine assistance can also be obtained in how we handle religious points or claims of fact that we might question. For example:

“The Church is making great efforts to be transparent with the records we have, but after all we can publish, our members are sometimes left with basic questions that cannot be resolved by study. …Some things can be learned only by faith (see D&C 88:118). Our ultimate reliance must be on faith in the witness we have received from the Holy Ghost.”  https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2016/04/opposition-in-all-things?lang=eng

I also think divine assistance is necessary in discerning the respective roles of fact and truth in generating faith, and which facts and truths are essential for our salvation, and which is more essential.

As far as boundaries go, Alma 32 leaves that up to you (the presence or absence of the "swelling motions" described in Alma 32).