Fether

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  1. Like
    Fether got a reaction from Traveler in My Thoughts on Organizing Intelligences   
    A great theory!!!
    for a fiction book
    D+C 88:25 “the earth abideth the law of a celestial kingdom, for it filleth the measure of its creation, and transgresseth not the law--“
    In place of the phrase “the earth” you can put anything else. As long as a creature full fills its measure, it will be found in the celestial kingdom. The highest degree of the celestial kingdom is held only for those that are children of God and sealed for eternity. So that is the plan. Animals/plants/insects/etc will all be found in the celestial kingdom, but will not be “exalted”
    Why is this so?
    I don’t think this is “unfair” or any of us being here was just a “luck of the draw”. Ever known someone that attends church but refuses callings because they don’t want the responsibility? I imagine it was the same way in the creation. Some spirits don’t want the responsibility of exaltation and decided before mortality that they would rather not have to deal with the stress of agency.
    Similarly, those that will be exalted are those that magnify their callings, follow the counsel of the prophets strictly, and participate in all the ordinances of the gospel. Those who do not will not be exalted.
  2. Haha
    Fether got a reaction from Carborendum in Book of Mormon Language   
    Something like this?
    https://www.amazon.com/dp/1544259158/_encoding=UTF8/ref=as_li_ss_tl?coliid=I3250QET6NOV2E&colid=N2P1EYGLVUWE&linkCode=sl1&tag=babblawid0e-20&linkId=bfddaa03e4cb35e02a2e1177a6dc86a0
     
     
    or https://www.bible.com/bible/76/JAS.1.HPB
    James 1:5-6
    ”5If one a you guys donno wat fo do, aks God fo help you, fo give you da smarts you need! He no goin give you guys hard time. He goin help you guys. God give plenny to erybody, you know. 6But if you goin aks him fo do someting, you gotta trus him. No ack jalike you no can make up yoa mind. Da guy dat no stay shua, he jalike one wave inside da ocean dat da wind stay blow all ova da place.”
  3. Like
    Fether got a reaction from Vort in Conference Rumors   
    Ever have a moment where you hear something that strikes such a strong chord in your heart that it sticks with you forever? There was a man in my ward of whom I respected more than most due to the charity he selflessly gave and the gospel principles I watched him live. I heard him make an off the cuff comment in a gospel doctrine when I was young. I don't remember the topic or what was being discussed, but he said "I think there will be a lot of people expecting to get into the celestial kingdom that will find they are wrong." I'm not saying this man's words are equal to the prophets, but the spirit his comment brought to me (which only I can really be sure of) was undeniable. I would consider the quote by Bruce R McConkie 
    “The elect of God comprise a very select group, an inner  of faithful members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They are the portion of church members who are striving with all their hearts to keep the fulness of the gospel law in this life so that they can become inheritors of the fulness of gospel rewards in the life to come.”

    I am going to make some potentially harsh statement and accusations that may reveal the kind of saint I am (for better or for worst), Of which I am sure many of us are guilty of (and know I am guilty of a few).

    I do not believe that the elect of God:
    - Complain about giving talks, seriously or sarcastically (I absolutely hate the culture of "it's funny to complain about giving a talk/accepting a calling")
    - Reject callings
    - Joke about not wanting their current stewardship as a leader or teacher
    - Reject an assignment to teach
    - Are checking Social Media during church
    - Gossip EVER
    - watch ANY movie with immoral or ammoral content (PG-13 and some PG movies)
    - Attend the temple less than once a month (when within a reachable distance)
    - fail to read their scriptures and pray regularly
    - Swear
    - Break the sabbath
    - Fail to do FHE
    - Fail to take their spouse on a date (or treat as the spouse desires)
    - Fail to read their patriarchal blessing regularly and keep it close to them
    - Sleep in (meaning sleeping longer than 8 hours)
    - Never lie, steal, or pirate material
    I DO believe the elect of God:
    - Love God
    - Love their neighbor
    - Desire callings, assignments, and positions of glory
    - Aspire to Godhood
    - Retire to bed early and arise early to prepare spiritually for the day
    - Eat healthily
    - Exercise
    - LOVE the scriptures and LOVE prayer


    I can go on and on but I'll stop there. I think we will all be IMMENSELY happy and satisfied with where were end up. Because where we end up is where we will be the most happy... But where we end up may not be exaltation. And why is that? "Because their hearts are set so much upon the things of this world, and aspire to the honors of men" ... and frankly, we don't want it. We all say we do because it is what we are taught... but how many of us, based on how we live our lives, REALLY want to live a perfect exalted life?

    (Now there is a whole nother topic about grace and repentance that expands on this... but let's see how this goes first)
  4. Like
    Fether reacted to Vort in What is the nature of the JST?   
    FYI:
    Defer = honor (someone or something); submit to; accept as authoritative. The root of the word deference "honor; esteem, respect". Accent on the final syllable. Differ = at variance with; not in agreement. The root of the word difference "unrelatedness; variance; elements that are not the same". Accent on the penult (next-to-last syllable).
  5. Like
    Fether got a reaction from CV75 in When the spirit enters the body   
    This is also something I noticed. I imagine the exact time a spirit enters the body may be different and there isn’t any real metric we can look to to really know. Additionally, Christ may have had a little more freedom with this whole process.
    I understand this may not be where you are going with this, but it is worth pointing out. When the spirit enters the body should have little sway on our opinion of abortion.
  6. Like
    Fether got a reaction from ldsguy422 in premarital relations   
    I have known many missionaries who had some sort of justification for not confessing to the bishop and went on their mission. Doing so are them alive until they finally confessed. Every second is mental and emotional torcher if your friend goes on a mission without confessing.
    Here are some exercises I have done to help my self chill out about confessing sins to the bishop.
    1) tell myself “repenting and coming clean is a requirement for exaltation. Serving a mission is not.”
    2) Ask myself “do I really believe there is a God? Do I really believe this is God’s church? If I really believe these things, going to my bishop is the obvious decision. If I don’t and I am only in it for the cheap schooling and social life, than who cares, I’ll just go on a mission without repenting”
    3) tell myself “this is a weakness I have. The only way to overcome it is through Christ. Christ has given clear guidelines on what someone ought to do to become clean of their sins. Do I become clean or do I stay hiding?”
    Maybe share those with your friend
  7. Like
    Fether got a reaction from Vort in Blue Plastic O-Rings   
    My wife has a habit of thinking however things are going in any specific moment is how things have always been through all time.
     
    If we are having a good day, she will talk about how perfect of a marriage we have and how things are just so good all the time. 
     
    If things are going bad and I fail to meet her emotional and social needs, then she will talk about how how bad things are all the time and how she thinks we have been growing apart.
    She is aware of this so we have a good laugh (or fight) when this happens.
  8. Like
    Fether got a reaction from Jamie123 in Blue Plastic O-Rings   
    My wife has a habit of thinking however things are going in any specific moment is how things have always been through all time.
     
    If we are having a good day, she will talk about how perfect of a marriage we have and how things are just so good all the time. 
     
    If things are going bad and I fail to meet her emotional and social needs, then she will talk about how how bad things are all the time and how she thinks we have been growing apart.
    She is aware of this so we have a good laugh (or fight) when this happens.
  9. Like
    Fether got a reaction from NeuroTypical in premarital relations   
    I have known many missionaries who had some sort of justification for not confessing to the bishop and went on their mission. Doing so are them alive until they finally confessed. Every second is mental and emotional torcher if your friend goes on a mission without confessing.
    Here are some exercises I have done to help my self chill out about confessing sins to the bishop.
    1) tell myself “repenting and coming clean is a requirement for exaltation. Serving a mission is not.”
    2) Ask myself “do I really believe there is a God? Do I really believe this is God’s church? If I really believe these things, going to my bishop is the obvious decision. If I don’t and I am only in it for the cheap schooling and social life, than who cares, I’ll just go on a mission without repenting”
    3) tell myself “this is a weakness I have. The only way to overcome it is through Christ. Christ has given clear guidelines on what someone ought to do to become clean of their sins. Do I become clean or do I stay hiding?”
    Maybe share those with your friend
  10. Like
    Fether got a reaction from Just_A_Guy in premarital relations   
    I have known many missionaries who had some sort of justification for not confessing to the bishop and went on their mission. Doing so are them alive until they finally confessed. Every second is mental and emotional torcher if your friend goes on a mission without confessing.
    Here are some exercises I have done to help my self chill out about confessing sins to the bishop.
    1) tell myself “repenting and coming clean is a requirement for exaltation. Serving a mission is not.”
    2) Ask myself “do I really believe there is a God? Do I really believe this is God’s church? If I really believe these things, going to my bishop is the obvious decision. If I don’t and I am only in it for the cheap schooling and social life, than who cares, I’ll just go on a mission without repenting”
    3) tell myself “this is a weakness I have. The only way to overcome it is through Christ. Christ has given clear guidelines on what someone ought to do to become clean of their sins. Do I become clean or do I stay hiding?”
    Maybe share those with your friend
  11. Like
    Fether got a reaction from Vort in premarital relations   
    I have known many missionaries who had some sort of justification for not confessing to the bishop and went on their mission. Doing so are them alive until they finally confessed. Every second is mental and emotional torcher if your friend goes on a mission without confessing.
    Here are some exercises I have done to help my self chill out about confessing sins to the bishop.
    1) tell myself “repenting and coming clean is a requirement for exaltation. Serving a mission is not.”
    2) Ask myself “do I really believe there is a God? Do I really believe this is God’s church? If I really believe these things, going to my bishop is the obvious decision. If I don’t and I am only in it for the cheap schooling and social life, than who cares, I’ll just go on a mission without repenting”
    3) tell myself “this is a weakness I have. The only way to overcome it is through Christ. Christ has given clear guidelines on what someone ought to do to become clean of their sins. Do I become clean or do I stay hiding?”
    Maybe share those with your friend
  12. Thanks
    Fether reacted to Carborendum in The Great and Abominable Church   
    Yes, that's what I said.
  13. Like
    Fether got a reaction from Grunt in Gospel Living   
    I almost want them to just fully commit to it and make a full on Latter-day Saint social media. Not sure if that would catch on though
  14. Like
    Fether got a reaction from askandanswer in Question re mercy   
    A
     
    But pure, unadulterated mercy freely given to everyone goes contrary to God’s plan.
    Christ’s message is not one of “maximum mercy”, but rather perfection for those who wish for it and relative happiness for the rest.
    Read Alma 42 and it is clear that mercy and justice have their place
  15. Like
    Fether got a reaction from Carborendum in Question re mercy   
    A
     
    But pure, unadulterated mercy freely given to everyone goes contrary to God’s plan.
    Christ’s message is not one of “maximum mercy”, but rather perfection for those who wish for it and relative happiness for the rest.
    Read Alma 42 and it is clear that mercy and justice have their place
  16. Like
    Fether got a reaction from Just_A_Guy in Gospel Living   
    Ya. One bad actor and we have ourselves another salt lake tribune article and a HULU docuseries about the horrors of gospel living titled “Gospel Grooming”
  17. Like
    Fether reacted to Just_A_Guy in Gospel Living   
    That’s be nice.  I’m mildly surprised they even released the current iteration.  I imagine the potential liability issues cause the Church’s legal eagles many sleepless nights . . .
  18. Like
    Fether got a reaction from Just_A_Guy in Gospel Living   
    I almost want them to just fully commit to it and make a full on Latter-day Saint social media. Not sure if that would catch on though
  19. Like
    Fether got a reaction from Vort in This is probably a controversial topic, but I can't help it [College Football topic].   
    I dont always succeed, just to clarify. But I’ll give some examples of things I’ve gotten rid of or changed.
    - Sleeping longer than 8 hours. 6 1/2 - 8 hours is perfect. Anything less is insufficient and beyond that is unnecessary and almost always is a catalyst to a lazy day. Lazy days don’t make me happy so I no longer sleep longer than 8 hours. I use this rule instead of the “wake up early” rule. I still end up waking up really early most mornings, but the 8 hour rule gives me room to adapt when needed
    - Studying controversial church topics. Regardless as to whether the article is faithful or not, it drains my energy to read those things. It’s intellectually stimulating, but fails to feed me spiritually. In fact it starved me more. I choose to love longer read those unless it is necessary to help someone. This is one I fail at often, but I am working on it
    - Playing video games when I have other more important things to do. I save all video games for when my other tasks are done (like scriptures, journaling, preparing for the day, etc.) and only when my kids are asleep.
    - Playing games online. This is one I am working on myself with. I’m trying to teach myself to not get angry when I lose to someone else online. This is similar to the sports thing you mentioned earlier.
  20. Haha
    Fether got a reaction from Vort in This is probably a controversial topic, but I can't help it [College Football topic].   
    Sounds like the words of someone who is bad at sports
  21. Like
    Fether got a reaction from Vort in Your gut and the spirit   
    I subscribe the Darren Daily, which is a daily video from Darren Hardy about success and excellence in life.
    This morning he had a video about following your gut and he pointed out he never ever once regretted following his gut, nor had he ever heard someone say they regretted following their gut.
    I shared his experience and it got me thinking. My gut feelings tend to be extremely reliable and I know in the past I have defined that “gut feeling” as being from the spirit. Can that feeling, in some way,  be related to the spirit?
  22. Thanks
    Fether reacted to Vort in Platitudes   
    A few weeks ago, we flew to Chicago to attend my son's law school graduation. The commencement ceremony for the law school included two primary speakers, a woman and a man. The woman spoke first. She had a lengthy list of qualifications (including a director of Planned Parenthood, which lessened her substantially in my son's estimation). She began her talk by saying that such commencement speeches typically included lists of platitudes, which she promised to follow. True to her word, she then offered one of the most uninteresting, useless talks I can ever remember listening to in any venue. "Utterly forgettable" does not do justice to just how useless this talk was. Of course, she was wildly applauded when she finished—though I wonder if the applause was less for the talk she had given and more for the fact that it was over.
    The man spoke next. He, too, had a lengthy list of qualifications, including being a practicing lawyer who (I think) argued before the Supreme Court, a highly influential professor, and a respected author. He offered a truly interesting and insightful speech on the importance of the Supreme Court and dismissed the idea that the justices there were biased on the whole. It made up for the cringing boredom of the previous speaker. He, too, was applauded, though it seemed to me that his talk was not as well-received as the previous travesty.
    Lessons: Platitudes often take the place of actual thought and ideas. In addition, platitudes tend to be better received by society, even (perhaps especially) by those who call themselves well-educated.
  23. Like
    Fether got a reaction from Backroads in Gun Control Bill   
    Arming teachers is not about having the cafeteria lady and pre-algebra teachers patrolling  the playground with M4s. It’s about school districts allowing, and maybe even paying for, concealed carry permits, classes, and regular trainings. It’s also not about saying the teachers are in charge of safety, but just having an extra precaution in case of a shooter situation.
    It’s not a solution, but rather another roadblock to prevent a bad situation becoming worst.
    The problem is mental health and having 1,000 kids, who are trying to figure out who they are, all trapped in a building together 8 hours a day half the year.
    The fix? Easy. Everyone is homeschooled by parents who are morally pure and have the ability to teach their kids. If a child shows signs of mental health struggles, they get to meet with a good therapist to help them…Actually… nvm… that isn’t simple, finding a good therapist is nearly impossible. This plan won’t work.
  24. Like
    Fether got a reaction from Just_A_Guy in Gun Control Bill   
    Arming teachers is not about having the cafeteria lady and pre-algebra teachers patrolling  the playground with M4s. It’s about school districts allowing, and maybe even paying for, concealed carry permits, classes, and regular trainings. It’s also not about saying the teachers are in charge of safety, but just having an extra precaution in case of a shooter situation.
    It’s not a solution, but rather another roadblock to prevent a bad situation becoming worst.
    The problem is mental health and having 1,000 kids, who are trying to figure out who they are, all trapped in a building together 8 hours a day half the year.
    The fix? Easy. Everyone is homeschooled by parents who are morally pure and have the ability to teach their kids. If a child shows signs of mental health struggles, they get to meet with a good therapist to help them…Actually… nvm… that isn’t simple, finding a good therapist is nearly impossible. This plan won’t work.
  25. Like
    Fether got a reaction from mordorbund in Gun Control Bill   
    Arming teachers is not about having the cafeteria lady and pre-algebra teachers patrolling  the playground with M4s. It’s about school districts allowing, and maybe even paying for, concealed carry permits, classes, and regular trainings. It’s also not about saying the teachers are in charge of safety, but just having an extra precaution in case of a shooter situation.
    It’s not a solution, but rather another roadblock to prevent a bad situation becoming worst.
    The problem is mental health and having 1,000 kids, who are trying to figure out who they are, all trapped in a building together 8 hours a day half the year.
    The fix? Easy. Everyone is homeschooled by parents who are morally pure and have the ability to teach their kids. If a child shows signs of mental health struggles, they get to meet with a good therapist to help them…Actually… nvm… that isn’t simple, finding a good therapist is nearly impossible. This plan won’t work.