JohnsonJones

Good answer Person_0.

I am very cognizant of the commandment that we should not take his name in vain. Because of that, I tend to skirt around specific names, and utilize terms that are more general and still respectful. it can be a delicate balance on my part in regards to ME (and only me in this regard).

I try picturing myself, but all I get is this silhouette of some ambiguous head. There's this kid that supposedly looks a LOT like I did when I was young, maybe I should post that picture for my avatar (if I can ever figure out how to actually do that) if I get permission from them.

I guess Star Wars. I enjoyed the Original Trilogy, and the Prequels are okay, but I don't really enjoy these new movies like I enjoyed the original three movies that came out. I enjoy some of the new Star Trek movies, but they seem to be more flash than substance, so I'm not sure I would say that I'm really a big fan of them either. A few years ago we watched Star Gate SG-1 on Sci-Fi...that was a pretty fun show. Can I vote for another old show instead? I really enjoyed the OLD Battlestar Galactica (the new one is a little too risqué for me to be honest). How about...Duck Dynasty? That's a recent show I really enjoyed. Could I go with 2001 instead as my choice to be a current fan of? That's an older movie, but I still enjoy it and they haven't ruined it with tons and tons of sequels (they did attempt to make one several decades ago based on 2010, but that's the entirety of the sequel attempts they've done with it).

LOL. I think there may be quite a few that have that idea. I think that in the next life, just like in this one, we will all have choices which we will be allowed to make. It is possible that you will get to choose what you wish to do, and if you work, what type of work you will do. Of course, considering how few Mormons there are, and how many Non-Mormons there are, if we are so lucky as to attain Spirit Paradise, I imagine that those who choose to work will be EXTREMELY BUSY in the next life.

I am an old guy, so I apologize about my lack of knowledge. So far, Windows 10 doesn't seem all that bad too me. I suppose if Microsoft is interested in the LDS gospel library and LDS.com as well as these forums and some other sites like that, perhaps they'll read up on Mormonism and convert. I suppose Windows 10 is made for the non-technologically talented old folks like me. The item I'm not really a fan of is this new Office 365 idea that they have going around now. I'd rather have a devoted office that I don't have to worry about whether it renews or not.

Personally, I'd rather have the hope that if they keep coming to church someday they'll eventually change their lives about or come upon an epiphany. I never hope someone leaves the church, but I agree it can get tiresome if someone always harps on things they dislike about the LDS church. I always hope that somehow, someway, the Lord will touch their heart.

I believe at least those Native Americans native to the US portion (or at least the Eastern and Midwestern portions) are the descendents of Lehi, but when doing DNA markers, they are looking at the wrong haplogroups and identifiers of what is Hebrew and what is something else. Despite how far the advances have come, it is still a relatively new science, and I think many things that we do not yet know will be discovered.

I am pretty strong against divorce, but the Lord made it clear that adultery WAS good grounds for divorce. However, here's a clever contraption. He said this, put it to the test. If he said he'll do anything, say if he MEANS it and REALLY goes through with it, you'll accept him back. The condition, he HAS TO BECOME A GOOD MEMBER OF THE CHURCH. That means going through repentance, the whole nine yards. The added condition is he has to be sincere about it and cannot hold a grudge against you for asking that of him. I'm betting he's not being sincere when he says he'll do anything. However, if he is, it means, hopefully he'll come back as a stronger member then ever. On the otherhand, the bible is pretty clear about Adultery. You are a very good woman to even consider working it out with her husband (if he had only one or the other issue and even considering working it out, that makes you an exceptional person). I try to be good, but at times I can be pretty vengeful. I'd probably be filing for divorce already. You seem far more forgiving than I, and that's a good thing.

Well, my wife watched a movie when she was young called Flight of Dragons. It's an old animated movie by Rankin/Bass. I watched it with her and found it rather enjoyable. In some ways you can see elements of the gospel in the ideas around it, though mixed in a fantasy type movie with magic and concerns about industry vs. nature.

That's a good start, but being sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise is different than that. It requires obedience and adherence to the covenants that you make in regards to that ordinance or covenant. This applies to any ordinance that you participate in. Depending on your lifestyle, you may not KNOW if an ordinance was sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise until the next life. However, if you are living in accordance with the gospel and the promises you made in those covenants, you can rest in the faith that your ordinances have been sealed or will be sealed by the Holy Spirit of Promise.

Now for the other side of the equation. If you are NOT a male, and are a woman, please say so. I took it for granted that you were male, but there is always the other side of the equation. Some woman worry about polygamy as well, especially in the hereafter. They do NOT want to share their husbands and spouses (and this I understand). I can only say, in this instance, I do not know what will occur in the Celestial Kingdom exactly. I DO know that the Lord knows each and every one of us. He knows our concerns, our hopes, and our fears. We seek exaltation in the Celestial Kingdom because that is where we are promised to have the greatest joy and happiness. I think the Lord, who knows us, will only give us what we need to be happy and joyful, and will not do anything to us that would hurt or harm us in any way. While I do not know the state of what the Celestial Kingdom will be in this regard, I think no one will be forced to live something that would make them sad, unhappy, depressed, and unjoyful. In that, we can take comfort that in the Kingdom of Heaven, we can truly find the peace that we may be lacking in this life, and find the love that we deserve in the next. My personal thoughts (meaning, this is NOT even an opinion, but something more fluid) is that polygamy is not going to be something we have to choose to accept or reject. Any individual that does NOT wish to live polygamy will not need to practice polygamy in the hereafter (as long as they were not directly commanded to do so in this life personally by the Lord or his direct servants). The Lord knows our hearts and knows our persons. He would never do anything that would bring us misery, for that is the domain of the adversary. The Lord rather is full of love and mercy for us, and only seeks what will bring us joy and happiness in the worlds and life to come.

The scriptures are not contradicting per se. Polygamy is ONLY correct when ordered by the Lord. When it is NOT ordered by the Lord, it is a sin. Furthermore, when a law is used as an excuse, or not taken as seriously as it should be, it can lead to sin. David and Solomon were given wives in polygamous marriages. Instead of being content with what they were given, they lived the law beyond what it was, and did not take the law as seriously as they should have. This practice thus, instead of building them upwards, eventually tore them down in sin. Polygamy can be a very perilous edge to man, and unless one always walks uprightly, can lead to one's destruction instead of exaltation. It is a harder trial than many would realize, especially because temptation thus increases, rather than decreases (contrary to what many probably would think) if the scriptures and our own LDS history are any indication of what the reality of practicing polygamy results in. Jacob's people were commanded not to practice polygamy. Any who did so, no matter what excuse they were doing, were committing sin. There were many who tried to use the excuse of David and Solomon. This did not excuse their sin. Their sin made many of their wives very sad and unhappy. It brought great unhappiness to the people. Furthermore, in their excuses, they ignored the trials that brought the sins that ultimately destroyed David and Solomon. Ironically it was those sins that David and Solomon were participating in that were actually the excuses being focused on by the people in Jacob's day to say they were allowed or even supposed to practice polygamy. They did not focus on the fact that the LORD gave David the wives that were allowed, but instead on the Lusts that eventually brought David to sin, and the other reasons for marriage (diplomatic, wealth, etc) that led Solomon down the road to eventual apostasy. This is why Jacob hits upon many of these things that David and Solomon did which were abominable in the Lord. With the things the Lord gave them, they were righteous in polygamy. In the things which they used to practice plural marriage where it was NOT commanded of the Lord, it was a great sin and abomination before the Lord. Today, if one is wondering about polygamy, be satisfied with what they have been given and know already. Do NOT strive after polygamy. It is NOT commanded of them to practice it in our day. If one is striving for polygamy in our day, it is like those in Jacobs time that strove after polygamy. They saw the unrighteous items that David and Solomon sought for, and instead committed the SAME abominations that David and Solomon committed that eventually led them to their destruction. Some excuses today sometimes also do the same as the people in Jacobs time. For example, one individual in the history of the church said that any man that wished to attain exaltation needed to be married to at least three women. Some, today, take that as a reason to seek after polygamy. Afterall, how can they be saved if they do not have this. However, this is NOT a commandment for our time, and it is NOT a commandment for our day. Jacob (from the bible this time) was a mighty and great prophet. He had two wives. Who would say he is not the anointed of the Lord? Indeed, I would say he would go to his exaltation far before many of us. Adam was married to ONE wife. He is the mightiest of the Angels, or at least the Arch angel. Who would say that he is not chosen of the Lord? They had commandments for their time and they followed them. They did not pay heed to those things which were not pertinent to them. Seeking after things which are not given to us, in the light that past or future generations had them, can only lead to pain and strife at the least, and at the worst, dreadful and terrible sin. If polygamy is something that was promised you would practice at some future point, be content with that answer. For now, live your life in such a way that you can actually live the laws that pertain to the here and now, rather than things that are not currently in force. If, as chance may be, the occasion arises that you would need to practice polygamy or any other law, and it has been made aware to you, then live your life according to the laws today, and be content to know that when the time comes, the Lord knows all things and commands all things. I would say, the first thing you would need to worry about is NOT multiple wives. If you are unmarried, the first thing you need to worry about is finding ONE wife. If you have the opportunity in this life and the faculties to be married in the temple, and do NOT...I think wondering about how polygamy may affect you in eternity is the LEAST of your worries. Next, after you find a wife that will marry you for all time and eternity, focus on HER desires and wants. You may find that the idea of polygamy disgusts her (not necessarily, but it is a possibility). Instead of trying to force your views on her, think about WHY she feels that way, and how you can truly love her as she deserves as a daughter of God, a daughter of Heavenly Father, and a daughter of the Ruler of all existence. Put HER FIRST in your life. Live unselfishly. It is hard to put your wife first if you are striving to find another. I have seen enough follow that route into sin and excommunication that it is actually rather frightening. MANY who have this happen to them, try to cite some of the things I mentioned above. DO NOT follow their examples. Instead, ALWAYS put the wife of your heart and your youth FIRST. By putting her thoughts, desires, needs, and hopes in righteousness before your own, everything else that is necessary and needful for you to obtain exaltation will follow, in this life or the next. In otherwords, get married and then put your wife before yourself in righteousness. If then, the Lord commands you to practice polygamy through the PROPER channels (aka, the prophet has a revelation, or the Lord himself reveals himself to man and commands it), the proper things in life will follow. But above all, you need to always put your wife and your spouse FIRST (well, after the Lord, but BEFORE yourself). Then, when wondering about polygamy, ask yourself what she thinks and HOW SHE feels about it. It is HER thoughts and concerns you need to worry about, for if you cannot handle one wife, how then would you handle more than one?

This is a personal thing, and goes AGAINST the current scientific evidence. It is not something that is known in general, and as far as I know, the family has gone by other titles and names in public generally. I would qualify as native American I suppose, though just barely (there are certain requirements of how much blood, or how far down the line you are that qualifies you for Native American). Now, here's the kicker. In the individual families and such, mine would have the name of Manasseh. Yes...Manasseh. As far as I know, I do not have a lick of Judaic blood in me. I am NOT Semitic. More interesting, my mother was connected through the Patriarchal blessing to the tribe of Manasseh. I, on the otherhand, was told I was of a different tribe. So, the thought of mine that comes to my mind is, how is this? Is it possible that we are literally the descendants (however times removed)? If this is true, than it is highly possible that the actual DNA that the Hebrews had as a family is NOT the same DNA as is found among most of those in the Middle East. The tribe of Judah has been there long enough that maybe they have intermingled enough with others in the Middle East (something that the Israelites were told NOT to do, but probably happened, especially among those who returned after the Babylonian captivity) and that is what is linking them to the peoples of the Middle East in general. Or it could be that the people's of the Middle East have a lot of the blood of Judah in them (which would also be a connection). However, neither of those state that the Hebrews necessarily had that type of blood line. This is just a personal thing and has NO scientific backing to it. It's my pondering about my family background and that related to those found in the Book of Mormon. I know what the background of my family in that direction is, and with it having Manasseh in the background (It is spelled differently though), I think there is a strong possibility of a connection. As I said though, I don't think I have any tiny bit of Semitic blood in me. There are other connectors to European Jews that I have in common with them in my DNA (as in, common nations of origin where I have geneology and so did many European Jews, though as far as I know, theirs and my line did not connect) and many would say that the linkage of the European nationality comes from my European geneology (but does it in truth? I wonder). Maybe the tribe of Ephraim's blood line was what the Vikings had and those who share that lineage are related to Vikings, I think there are other possibilities. In other words, in looking to connect the Native Americans to the Jews (of which they are NOT part of that tribe) via the DNA common to those found in the Middle East may actually be a flawed logic, or flawed reasoning if looking for the traits of those who were Hebrews generally, and not specifically from the tribe of Judah. As I said, NO scientific backing. I think, in relation to my own background, there is a LOT we do not know.

When we analyze the Lord and who he taught in the New Testament, he normally did not find much success among the rich and the powerful. It was normally among those that were already humbled by the problems of life, and thus were willing to accept his teachings and humble themselves by choice to be servants of the Lord. In that way, perhaps those in Prison are more receptive, because of all of us, many of them have been delivered into the ultimate humbling experience. In that light, many of them are thus prepared to receive the Lord's gospel and truly humble themselves by choice by following him and accepting his gospel. Of course, it may be for naught if one puffs themselves up with pride after receiving it and rebels against the Lord (or perhaps, that is one reason he feels to keep humbling some of them, to keep them returning back to him?). I think it has to do with how humble one may be that leads to how receptive one is of the Lord. I think many have been greatly humbled when in prison.

That's an interesting statement. I think this is actually true in some instances. We KNOW people of all faith believe that their religion is the true and correct way. They largely believe this is true not from scientific evidence (of which, even in regards to the Bible, when done by those who are unbiased, shows a large scientific evidence of being mythological rather than reality), but from something else. (For Mormons, the same would also apply to the Book of Mormon for example). Is it possible then that the Muslims have their feelings preempt truth? Yes...it is. In that light, is it possible that some Christians are relying more on feelings rather than the truth of the Bible? Yes...it is. And finally, in that light, it is possible that some Mormons are also relying more on what they feel is true, rather than any revelation from the Lord or any truth in that light. So, then, how does one know what is true and what is not true. If you were to approach a Muslim and say...what I believe is true and what you do not is untrue...how do you prove this? Is it simply going to be that you say your Bible is more correct than their Hadith and Koran? Do we think most of them will accept this (I would postulate that a majority would not, especially considering they did not convert to Christianity today, nor after decades of foreign influence on their nations where undoubtedly many conversations like this occurred). The Baptist believe there is a way that one can know of this truth far more than just feelings. There is a literal change within oneself. This takes steps, one must FIRST accept the Lord and his grace. If this is done, then a change of heart, a literal change, where the attitude and way of being are literally changed, can occur. One can literally KNOW they are saved by grace, rather than just hoping or thinking. Mormons feel something like this can also occur, but not so drastic. They feel that the Holy Ghost can come down and testify to each individual the truth of the Gospel. It may be a feeling that ONLY the Holy Ghost can truly impart (so, no, it's not like last nights indigestion, or some other feeling we may feel on our own). It also can come as an actual voice that comes with peace and love (rather than how a voice of the enemy or adversary would come) and with that voice, feelings of joy. This, in some ways, is similar to the Pentecostal idea that the spirit can come and manifest itself (though with them, they feel it manifests itself in the form of spiritual gifts such as that of tongues and healing in their meetings). However, unlike the Pentecostals, the Mormon idea is of one that is far more gentle and does not reveal itself to others in outward manifestations unless their is a distinct purpose to it. In this way, different faiths teach on how one can KNOW something. It is not just a simple feeling one has, but something far more and meaningful.

Having seen the actual facsimile's (which is something 99.9% of those making this claim have not), or at least what we have left of them, I disagree with that. There are some things that are obvious (for example, Josephs studying it out in his mind made symbols and ideas of what they might mean, but that is not the actual translation and doesn't follow the translation he actually made in any way or form) which they typically blatantly ignore and try to state it was used or came about in a very different way then it was. It is like stating the Koran is Mohammad's translation of the Old Testament (also, untrue). However, the actual parallels and translations between what is found in the Books (breathings/dead) is an interesting topic, but not one I'm really interested in discussing on this forum or under theses auspices. More over, much as non-Christians would not accept that Babylonian myth, Egyptian myth, and others are taken from Hebraic theology rather than vice versa, the same would probably apply if discussing this item. In that light, though I disagree with your opinion, and my opinion differs, we probably should stick to the topic at hand.

What you are saying is that the world went to the birds a couple million years ago.

Have fun. I've been to the Middle East many times, though I would admit it is NOT my first choice of places to visit. Enjoy yourself and have a good anniversary.

In all honesty, the scriptures do not really go into detail about this. Even the items stated by prophets and apostles tend to be more of the opinion rather than doctrinal analysis or theological ideas (in the similar vein of thinking there were inhabitants living on the moon...which was an opinion that didn't quite turn out like that). We don't really know though many have opinions on it. I don't even really have solid opinions, more like thoughts on the matter. There are those who feel that all sorts of odd things will happen in the millennium. I on the otherhand, feel differently. I think life, as we know it, will largely be in the manner that we see it here today. We will still work, we will still eat, we will still worship. The differences is that because of the righteousness of the people, it will be like the generations of peace after the Savior came in the Book of Mormon where for 4 generations they were at peace, lived the law of consecration, and worshipped the Lord. It did not negate the needs that existed, but they lived a higher law and a higher order. Another difference is that the heavens will be opened. Those that have passed on will be able to have communication and talking to with those still on the Earth. The books of heaven will be open to those on Earth. This actually might be able to happen today if we were righteous enough, but we are not. They will be in the millennium. A Great amount of Temple work will be able to be done. Those who have been translated will be able to also reside on this earth during this time. I do not know how long they will stay here until they are taken off the earth and receive their reward, but they will also be here. I do not think those who have been resurrected will be here. Resurrection is, in a way, part of the judgment and your reward will be decided. This is NOT necessarily the final judgment (it would be the one who receives their reward's final judgment, but not THE final judgment of the Lord). The Final Judgment is where those who are the last are to be judged. There can be others who received their judgment and rewards prior to this event. This happened previously in the original resurrection after the Lord's resurrection, and I expect it will occur during the millennium at times as well. Those who have received their reward may return and visit the Earth if sent on a mission from heaven, but otherwise, it will largely be like it is today with the rules and laws that pertain to us, still relevant. Will there be polygamy? Possibly, but also possibly not. The world is not going to be largely different in and of itself, the inhabitants will be. Those who die will be changed in a twinkle of an eye. There will be no need to linger in the ground. Their resurrection may come quickly, and then they may go onto their final reward, much like what happened to the resurrected during the first go around after the Lord's resurrection. I believe the Book of Mormon to be literal. I also believe it to be allegory of the world's history. In this, we can see the time of the Lord's coming as a parallel to our times and the millennium. We can also see, if we wish to look forward over a thousand years, what the end of the world would be like as it was with the Jaredites and eventually the Nephites. When we go to the Celestial Kingdom, we will still be able to converse with each other, to be friends and to associate with one another, much like we do here on Earth. However, we will be in a much holier sphere. Our primary focus will to honor our Father, and to raise righteous families. Our goals will be similar to what fathers and mothers living in righteousness have here on Earth, except we won't go about it in the same way. Mothers' will be responsible to raise their children in the ways of righteousness. Fathers will be responsible to provide a home and the things needed for life. They will have the power to create worlds and places of safety. Their children will grow up, and eventually need to make choices of their own on whether to be like their Parents, or go their own way. Will there be polygamy there, probably. At the least, those who were joined into polygamous marriages on this earth and had them sealed will practice it. The parents will STILL have their responsibilities, and Fathers will still need to provide for their children and mothers to raise them. Will it be for everyone. As Nephi stated...I do not know the meaning of all things. I do NOT know. I cannot even pretend to know. I have some ideas that aren't even up to the spec of thought, but in all honesty, I have NO IDEA. This is my view of those periods, or at least my thoughts currently.

I'd imagine the same thing they did when Gay Marriage went through the Supreme Court. With that court ruling, there is a MASSIVELY HUGE hole which basically should allow Polygamous marriages, if the church wished to pursue that avenue. I do not imagine that they want to go down that dark path. First, I think that if the church ever reinstituted Polygamy, they'd lost a LOT of members VERY rapidly. They'd get a LOT of bad PR very rapidly. It could be a very bad time for the church. I don't think the membership could take it, and I don't think the church wants to deal with those issues that would arise both inside the church and without in today's climate. Personally (and I've expressed my views on polygamy in other threads), I don't think it's something that really needs to be looked at right now anyways. My thoughts below are probably HEAVILY influenced by my opinions because I am NOT in favor of polygamy (and in fact am probably more against polygamy as a practice than for it). 1. I am happy just having ONE spouse. I can only see detrimental things in my marriage if there was more than one. 2. Why would any reasonable person want more than one spouse? Except for worldly ideas, I cannot think of one. The only real reason I could fathom is if the LORD commanded someone to do so, and in that instance, that is obeying the Lord, not because of worldly lust or other factors. Right now the commandment is to love your spouse and ONLY your ONE spouse in this manner. Thus, there is no reason to look forwards or backwards at the idea of ever being in a polygamous union. We should be concerned with the laws and commandments relevant to OUR day rather than for other times and seasons. 3. Jacob (BOM) stated bad things about polygamy. Abraham had terrible strife in his home due to polygamy resulting in the eventual banishment of a concubine and son. Jacob (Bible) had terrible strife between sisters in his home due to polygamy. David fell despite having polygamy. Solomon had terrible things happen to his faith despite his wisdom due to his polygamy. The Scriptures are rife with more things that are bad that occur in polygamous marriages than positive. I think that's a challenge that many may think they want, but I think many who may want that, may actually be more prone to the faults that we see in the scriptures that occur rather than a more positive experience. There is no reason in our day to seek polygamy nor it's return. 4. When asking what would happen, and why the church would reinstitute the law of polygamy, we need to ask WHY they might do this. It was never actually repealed, just the practice of it among living individuals concurrently. IT originally caused a lot of hardship, turmoil, and grief when it was around in our Latter day. It was a commandment of the Lord and it was a trial for those who were there. In our lives, do we feel we WANT more trials than we already have. To many of those who want it to return, I do not think many see how much of a trial it really is, and want it to return for other reasons than that the Lord commands. However, this is a GREAT trial of faith, and was a hard trial for many in the early days of the church. We, as a church have already gone through this fire and the edge of this trial. Do we really need to have this trial upon the church once again? Nevertheless, as the Lord commands, the church will do. However, as I do not see any great push presently in the LDS church to pursue this course of action, even if the Edmunds act was repealed, I highly doubt the practice of having concurrent living spouses in marriage would be resurrected as a policy or acceptable in the LDS church presently.

Saved apparently means different things to different Mormons. Saved is something similar to every Christian, which is that you are saved from Sin (and Hell) and physical death (hence resurrection). Because of the Atonement we are not automatically going to Hell, and we can be saved from our sins and Hell as well as death itself (resurrection). We are SAVED by the great mercy of the Lord. He is the one that saves us. Using the word in CONTEXT, rather than what some LDS ascribe it to, the word Damn as in the New Testament means condemned to suffer eternal punishment in Hell, or condemned to a spiritual death away from heaven. Yes, we are saved from Damnation in that idea, but that's the same as being Saved from Hell. What SOME Mormons are thinking is more like a DAM (which is something that can hold back water or is a barrier to something) which is a barrier in their minds to eternal exaltation/advancement which is entirely different. The idea of LDS exaltation, as some are using it, is mostly a FOREIGN concept in the Christian world, and some would indicate it would be heresy in most Christian Religions. Salvation on the otherhand, as understood by Christian Religions, which is being saved in the Kingdom of the Lord, or saved from our Sins and Hell is very similar. As per Russell M. Nelson, he explains it thus April 2008 Russell M. Nelson's Salvation and Exaltation And from the LDS org under it's guide to the scriptures it states... Guide to the Scriptures - Salvation Though it appears some may have various definitions and ideas in these regards.

It goes off the verse, In my father's house are many mansions (or rooms, depending on your translation). If I understand Rob correctly, the LDS aim to be in the biggest rooms/top rooms vs. any rooms. In a brief nutshell... In order to get into the Kingdom of Heaven, all one needs to do is acknowledge the Lord and the atonement either in this life or the next. Pretty inclusive, more so than many other Christian sects. Thus, all those who get into the Kingdom of Heaven are saved. However, to be constantly in the presence of the Lord in the next life, or in rooms/mansions closer to his at the top, we need to show that we actually love him, our hearts are towards him, and thus we want to be like him and do what he does. Our actions can reflect this as we obey his commandments. However, in the end, the Lord is the one who knows best and makes those types of decisions. The LDS thus focus on what is hoped for will gain a greater reward then simply what is just enough to get to heaven itself. I think the supposition Rob makes is if instead of focusing on the many different rooms/rewards/mansions in heaven, we instead simply focus on heaven and the love we need to feel towards the Lord, it would be simpler and more straightforward. (is this correct, I could be wrong in interpreting what Rob stated).

Some Baptist actually have a belief that covers this. They base it on Romans 2:12-15 where those who did not hear the law are not bound by the law, but those who do are bound. Basically, the belief is all have the word of the Lord in their hearts, and if they act upon it, and in righteousness, they also can be saved by the Lord's grace. I believe the Methodist also ascribe to this belief, and to a limited degree also the Presbyterians. This does not mean many are saved in this fashion, in fact, it is VERY RARE. However, allows the possibility that one who has never heard of the Lord, but lives in the manner that the Lord expects and in the belief of such, can also be saved.

Late to the party here. If NOT in the US, you can file a police report in some nations. In some nations (especially Europe) What they did was illegal. That may be a little more than one wants to do (pressing charges), but it can be a pretty serious offense. It wouldn't go far in Idaho, Utah, or Arizona, but in some nations, what they did would bring possible jail time. It could be a rather serious offense. I actually have a very different problem. I try inviting the parents to anything and everything (interview, please come with your kids. Activities, I'd LOVE to see the parents). Getting the parents to actually come with their children...I get VERY little to actually do this (and in many cases get a LOT of push back...afterall...why do they need to come with their children. I suppose I should be gratified that they have this much trust...but I know I didn't with my kids).