NDD18

The fact is we can't fully understand these things, we as human beings cannot understand eternity. That is the major flaw with your questions. Whats important is that there are many god and many lords, but we worship only one, and that is our heavenly father. no one else is important concerning our salvation and growth in this mortal life. We believe we are all spirit children of our father, and that he too was at some distant time one himself. Thats the only thing we can say about it. Everything else is logical guessing. In the scriptures we are told that the purpose of this life to learn to become one with our father in heaven, as Jesus was with him. We become joint heirs with Christ. So, although there are many gods, they are one God, because they are one in purpose. That purpose is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man. Our Heavenly father is mentioned as the God of gods, he created through his son Jesus Christ many worlds. thats all I have for the subject.

I think Joseph joined after learning masonry claimed to use rituals that were passed down from the temple of Solomon. He used the rituals to make up the endowment, which was given new meaning pertaining to the plan of salvation and Jesus Christ. I would guess other Church leaders joined sense Joseph Smith did. My great grandfather was a mason, I was actually wanting to look more into my self sometime later in life. Other Christian churches are against it though, because they think it's pagan or Satan worship, which it's not. Actually I think you have to be at least gnostic (belief in God or higher power) to join (I'm not sure). But anyway, I would follow the advice already given, discuss it with your bishop first. P.S. I think masonry has a pretty high membership fee.

Pray to God.

First off I would like to suggest you research your questions further on the internet. www.Jefflindsey.com answers alot of anti-mormon question and misunderstandings. Also I would suggest you pray to God, because you seem to lack testimony of these things. I would also really love for someone to explain why the Book of Mormon talks about wheat, barley, oats, millet, rice, cattle, pigs, chickens, horses, donkeys, and camels. The American Indians had none of this until 1492. Also, iron, steel and glass were not used before 1492. There is so much more, but I will leave it at that. Can you explain any of that? I won't answer anymore, because you can find the answers to all of these on the link I gave. Do not post anti-mormon questions here please, they have been answered ever since they were first asked, and the true answer to them can be found all throughout the internet, www.jefflindsay.com has been the best one of those I have found. Thank you for wasting my time.

"Recently, my family and I have discovered church history that is often kept away from members. They don't want to hear it, and you are excommunicated when you share it. That, right there, should be a huge red flag that something is not right." Last time I heard the Church promotes learning Church History. Your talking about church history put through the perspective of an anti-mormon, andone lacking the understanding that people make mistakes. You are not excommunicated for talking about Church history, you are exocmmunicated for teaching against the doctrines of the church and using anti-mormon material and tactics to undermine the church and peoples testimony in the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ. Doctrine is whatever is said in the Standard Works, not whatever a prophet thought or supposedly said. Church History is not kept from members, it's called reading, which according to you most members lack doing. Whatever History of the Church you've learned, so have I.

I've learned alot about early Church history,and doctrines/or sayings made by early Prophets that bothered me. But I pondered them, looked at the context, and prayed about them. They do not effect my place in the church or with God at all. Some people when given this information expecially from an Anti-Mormon percpective; it's easy to approach them from the wrong angle, and they can hurt your testimony.

It's always been a problem in America. Once upon a time, almost everyone in America where English, or African, or Natives. They have always been against other people coming in such as the Irish. But over time, and a large amount of immigration later, the racism or nationality go away, because they find their place in the country even though we are hard on them in finding one. Deep down it's all about differences, and being forced to live with different people, and trying to accept that and them.

That interpretation of that scripture contradicts the context in which it was given, will give that later. But in the scripture discussed; 1 peter 3:18-21, It says, that Jesus Christ Preached to those in the Spirit World or Prison. Why would he preach his gospel to them, if they could not accept it, and be baptized. Is not baptism required to Enter into Gods kingdom? John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Therefore in that it does reference Baptism for the Dead, because it would of been vain to preach to them without it. back to 1 corinthians 15:29 , it says, Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? hes saying that baptism for the dead is vain if they do not get resurrected. There is a resurrection, thats the whole purpose of the chapter. Therefore to Paul, and those practicing, it was not vain to do it. Also Baptism for the Dead has many other references to early Christianity other than in the Bible, such as in the Third Book of Hermas sim.9 verses 152-169, Pastor Hermas was a highly revered Christian leader in early Christianity, and his writings were considered scripture then, Hermas in this section, is asking an Angel a Question about baptism, specifically baptism for those dead. How can those already baptized get rebaptized, but for others. the answer was that, The apostles and teachers preach to those dead after they die, and give them the opportunity to receive the ordinance, and so the baptism is specifically just for those people in which it was for, not for those physically getting baptized who have already received it. Most scholars today will tell you and believe that Baptism of the Dead was practiced in Early Christianity. Early Christians believed that it was possible to receive things and learn things they didn't have the chance to do here after death. They believed the scriptures when they said, ""Why was the Gospel preached to those who are dead? In order that, although in the body they received the sentence common to men, they might in the spirit be alive with the life of God".(1 peter 4:6)

Yes, it was preached that it was required for entrance to the CK. Those statements no longer apply to us though. If a member of the Church in 1866 was commanded to enter into polygamy, and did not, he could not enter into the Kingdom of God, because he denied his will. It only applies to them whom it was given to. Bruce R. McKonkie , said after the 1978 revelation: ".......I have said the same things. . . . All I can say to that is that it is time disbelieving people repented and got in line and believed in a living, modern prophet. Forget everything that I have said, or what President Brigham Young or President George Q. Cannon or whomsoever has said in days past that is contrary to the present revelation. We spoke with a limited understanding and without the light and knowledge that now has come into the world. We get our truth and our light line upon line and precept upon precept. We have now had added a new flood of intelligence and light on this particular subject, and it erases all the darkness, and all the views and all the thoughts of the past. They don't matter any more. It doesn't make a particle of difference what anybody ever said about the Negro matter before the first day of June of this year [1978]. .........." I think it applies to this as well. Forget about Polygamy.....it's no longer in practice.

Not to any of my knowledge. If that statement were true, not many people are going to heaven.