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Although there is much we don't know, we do know that Christs Atonement does not work based on Him being punished in our place. By that I mean to refer to: From this passage, we can understand that Christ did not suffer a literal legalistic style punishment for our sins. Therefore His infinite atonement must work upon some other principle. While I don't know the full answer to the question, "how does Christ's Atonement work?" I do have an insight to share. Because of the way we experience law, punishment, sin and repentance, we are accustomed to thinking that differing and/or more grievous acts require different/greater punishments. However, in reality, there is only one punishment for sin, and that is permanent separation from God and His light. Does considering Christ's atonement from this perspective and with this added detail in mind help you?

The relationship is more similar to how close D&C is to the KJV. All of the conjugations and tenses are there, but often the Book of Mormon is a slightly 'easier' read than the Reina Valera.

In Spanish we use the LDS edition of the Reina-Valera translation dating back to the 1500's. It is very much akin to the KJV in its language as it pertains to Spanish. On my mission, we used a 1960 revision from a different publisher which obviously lacked the footnotes which are included in the LDS edition.

I think a reasonable assessment of the intent of the question might be to interpret it as, "How well did the Law of Moses fulfill the intention of it's originator (i.e. God)?" To which (in my opinion) the answer was and is, "Perfectly." 🙂

Imagine the misery of going through life after rejecting the true gospel you once loved. I was explaining to my daughter the other day that, for me, there is no alternative to the Restored Gospel. If the Book of Mormon and Church weren't true, I couldn't find answers in any other faith; they have similar or greater flaws and fewer answers. On the other hand, disbelieving God exists would make life a meaningless pursuit of pleasures, at which point, I might as well choose to believe; if I die and cease to exist, I have lost nothing and am none the wiser, yet gospel structured living blessed me with family, hope, redemption, and personal growth through my mortal sojourn. In myriad ways, the opportunity cost of living without the gospel is far greater than that of living with it, hence, there is no satisfactory alternative. I'm so grateful to know that Christ is my Savior and to have His true Restored Gospel in my life.

Yeah. Unfortunately, there are many in the same boat.

Perfectly.

So. . . I pointed out to my wife that when Elder Anderson brought up the LGBT+ legislation in Arizona, that most members who have embraced one of those lifestyles and/or ideologies tend to look at the Churches efforts as meaningless and as just publicity stunts. The reason for this is because their wish is that the Church would validate their lifestyle, which won't happen. I bring this up because it is easy for us to wish the brethren would do more because we don't know or understanding why God has not called them to so do. I am guilty of this all the time because I sometimes wish they would more explicitly reiterate the doctrines regarding identity, family, and chastity that are very clearly available on the Church website. In my mind I imagine that if only they would say it, the members who have been beguiled will be shaken and awaken; however, the doctrine is easy to find and they ignore it now, so why should I expect a retelling to stir them up? It never worked long-term for Laman or Lemuel. 🤷🏻‍♂️ I feel for you and your family, and I pray that in and through Christ you all come out on top with strength and increased ability to cope and deal with challenges.

Why do any of those questions matter? At the end of the day, Islam is a false religion and Muhammad was not a true prophet. Despite that, it is advantageous to all parties that we find common ground and shared values and beliefs because of the relational, social and political benefits of so doing. Note: My father and most of my family on his side are Muslim.

I wish more people testified like that in my ward. Too many people expressing gratitude without actual testimony. The benefit of a sincere testimony is that it can strengthen and uplift others, in addition to inviting the Spirit to reaffirm your own faith. If I testify to you that I know the Church is true by the power of the Holy Ghost, and I experience the presence of the Holy Ghost while sharing, then I have incrementally strengthened that witness. As one might suspect, it works nearly identically to repeating and/or affirming a lie until one believes it. The subtle yet massive difference is in the confirming witness of the Spirit of God. Satan is the great counterfeiter; because he cannot create anything, he takes things that are good and true and degrades them to an evil purpose, such as repeating a lie. I do know the Church and Restored Gospel are true. I know it by the power of the Spirit of God, which has borne witness to me at various times, and in various settings and circumstances, and I am happy to repeat it.

The process is called in-vitro fertilization. My wife and I looked into it as we were discovering our inability to have our own children. The moral and eternally significant questions that can arise involve the decision to use someone else's eggs and/or sperm (not an issue you are facing), and whether or not to freeze and/or dispose of leftover harvested eggs that are already fertilized (to many, disposing of a fertilized egg is equivalent to an abortion, so it would be preferable to donate it and face off with the first question). Why would people have extras? If more eggs are harvested and fertilized than is reasonable to implant into the uterus, then you end up with extras and must decide if you will have them implanted later (freezing), donate them, or dispose of them. In your situation, assuming you work with your doctors not to end up with unused fertilized eggs, I don't believe there would be any substantial moral, or ethical dilemma to impede you. The one spiritual consideration would be that you have the natural ability to become pregnant and this medical procedure exists as a fertility treatment primarily for those who lack that natural ability to some extent. Some might consider using this technology unnecessarily to be intentionally seeking to circumventing the functioning natural procreative process with which the Lord has blessed you. My wife and I weren't able to use in-vitro fertilization because even that would have only had a 5% chance to work for us. Additionally, the cost would have been in the tens of thousands for a single procedure. However, we will end up achieving a similar goal to the one you are seeking, because we were blessed differently and 4 of our 7 adopted children were over the age of 5 when they came to live with us (3 of their ages are within 4 months of each other). We wish we could have had those younger memories, but given that wasn't the Lord's plan, the fact that I will only be 47 when my youngest is 18 will also be nice.

Just watched the new Spiderman. I was 13 when the first Spiderman came out with Toby McGuire and seeing them all tied together the way they did was really cool 🙂

Plausibly, but I have wondered if a perfect body is able to perfectly assimilate / convert all edible matter into energy in a way our mortal bodies can't. Though, that would beg the question as to the eternal significance and need of certain parts of the digestive system. It seems like others addressed most of these in a way with which I agree, so I won't beat it to death here. Just wanted to point out that I didn't join in the conversation in relation to the "what is stopping them from living together as if they are married" question. I'm not sure I really care about the question all that much because the idea of doing something that somehow circumvents the blessings and limitations of the Kingdom of Glory one receives seems illogical and unrealistic on its face. To me, it is about as logical as asking what would stop two people from playing basketball once arriving at a tennis court with rackets and tennis balls. To address one other thing, I don't think sexual desire and sexual activity necessarily need be related in the eternities. I imagine much more driving desires would be the desire to procreate and the desire to "bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man". In fact, I imagine that if we are to believe that plural sealings are to remain in the eternities as anticipated by practitioners, we must also assume that the carnal nature of sexual desire will be done away, such that lust and jealousy could not enter into it. On a related note, if sexual desire is ultimately eliminated rather than perfected, that seems far too 'easy' of an out in terms of overcoming the natural man and perfecting ourselves. Anyway, even if sexual relations remain, I imagine the pain of not inheriting celestial glory and eternal increase will be felt not in the absence of sexual relations, but in the inability to have increase through progeny who also follow some form of the plan of salvation, because a perfected being would innately feel that as the truer and much deeper desire of the procreative act. Of course, I'm sure there's a whole lot more to all of this that none of us understand yet, I just think it is both preferable and more realistic to assume our mortal abilities and functions will be perfected rather than eliminated, even if we don't know what the result of such perfection could possibly be (i.e. the digestive and circulatory systems). Thanks for hearing me out 🙂

I, too, have never heard anyone explain the limitations of the lower kingdoms in this way. I have only heard it taught that one who inherits a lower Kingdom of Glory will be unable to visit a higher, but will still be able to be visited by and ministered to by those who dwell in one. Hence, the statement by @Fether would be speculative and most likely false (based on what is currently known), because it assumes that one's family members who have inherited a higher kingdom would intentionally choose not to visit that family member in a lower kingdom. It is my current understanding, however, that the familial sealing bonds are not taught to be in effect outside of Celestial Glory. Why would it not be the case? Why would male and female be an eternal part of our gender identity if not for the explicit purposes males and females serve in procreation? Why would we assume the process to be messy, mortal, or fallen in the next life, rather than simply assume that those are side-effects of the fall of man? Surely, we will quantify 'needs' differently but I think it makes a lot more sense to believe that there will be a perfected form of the earthly process than that God created man after His image with eternal body parts that serve only an extremely temporary purpose. I think the scriptures agree with you as it pertains to chastity not being a temporal law:

We are fine here. Lots of folks who didn't fare so well, but thankfully, no one in my family has been affected.

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I addition to the wonderful response by @Vort, I will point you to one of my favorite talks on the subject, "Weightier Matters". To reaffirm the Church's acceptance of Elder Oaks teaching, it was published in the Ensign 11 years after it was given at BYU. Pertinent sections from the talk: Unfortunately, the "pro-choice" members with whom I have shared this talk have given some of the same justifications that were negated by Elder Oaks as their reasons for ignoring it's message.

I have little faith in the integrity of the Supreme Court. However, as much as I would love to protect the lives of the innocent unborn children of God, I find myself even more excited about the plausibility that the Church releases a statement in support of the decision to overturn Roe v Wade (if it comes), in hopes that it will convince at least a few of the members of the Church (in my area that includes our Bishop's wife and the Stake Young Women's President) to stop supporting so called abortion 'rights' and the pro-choice movement. I doubt most who support such things will change their ways, but perhaps a few could be swayed by an official First Presidency statement. Anyway, we'll see if any of these hopeful things come to pass sometime next year I suppose.

Just now watched the trailer. Can't seem to find where / how to watch it. Do you know? I even have a Living Scriptures streaming subscription and they don't have it yet. . . . EDIT: Found it. Seems like it is now only available on DVD & Blu-Ray. Witnesses - Deseret Book

Happy Thanksgiving!

I think the answer is relatively simple: "he who hath ears to hear, let him hear." The promise declared by Moroni is ultimately one of many ways an individual may receive a witness of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. However, it is the only promised way that is 100% guaranteed. That doesn't mean it is easy, automatic, or to be taken for granted. That also doesn't mean we can or should only count answers that come through prayer at the expense of potentially casting out other witnesses we have received. I had many experiences with the Holy Spirit in my life before I ever got an answer following Moroni's method. I always wondered why I never was able to get an answer witnessing the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon while praying. Then when I finally got and answer through prayer, I realized why hadn't before. I asked Marge if she wanted me to share my witness and if she was willing to receive it and she wasn't. She also went beyond claiming to have never received an answer and extended to claiming to have received revelation in direct opposition to the promised answer. Despite these things, I know that one day she and her testimony can grow to embrace the truths of the Restored Gospel. God doesn't withhold a testimony from anyone, we withhold them from ourselves, albeit sometimes unwittingly.

I agree 100% that they were in the wrong and that they are guilty of something. The problem is, I don't think they are guilty of murder in the same way King Lamoni was guilty of murder, nor in the way Nehor was guilty of murder, nor in the way David was. It saddens me that our justice system isn't equipped or wasn't willing to handle the difference based on the charges. The good news is that Christ knows and understands all the nuanced differences of sin and grievous acts and will be able to resolve these things for both the living and the dead when He comes.

I am grateful you are willing to acknowledge at least this much. It could have been an evil Spirit, but it doesn't have to have been. Satan does all he can to copy spiritual influences to lead people astray. For example: After spending a great deal of time one day in a Buddhist temple (as a carpet cleaner - for my job), I felt a great sense of tranquility with the absence of the Spirit. That is one experience where I came to personally understand that Satan will seek to use feelings of tranquility as a replacement for the feeling of the peace of the Spirit. Joy: Fun, Love: Lust, and so on. Oddly, I find a good example of what this might be like is from the movie Batman Begins; when Ra's al Ghul (played by Liam Needing) is about to die, you can see his expression change to one of tranquility and acceptance of his fate. Such thoughts may dissipate inner turmoil but are no replacement for the true light and peace that comes from the Spirit of God. Hopefully this doesn't distract, from the intent of the message, but here is a still from that scene in the movie that captures the tranquility of resigning to ones fate. It could have been your own thoughts and desires. Perhaps there are things you do not like about the Church that made it easy to feel doubt and fear even while praying, and then to interpret those feelings as a witness that the Church and / or Book of Mormon is not true. Perhaps you did not separate your requests; the first step is to come to a knowledge that the Book of Mormon is true, everything else can be baby steps after that. It is common for people to receive a witness of the Book of Mormon and then to, through fear and doubt, reject a similar witness that the Church is Christ's true Church. I saw this regularly as a missionary. People received a witness and knew the Book of Mormon was true, but did not want to join the Church for their own reasons. ( I know you claim that you did want it ) There are so many distractions in this world and ways to sin and be led away. Satan will use whatever it takes. I have often considered the saying, "the only true miracle is that a man will repent and change". I like this saying because it emphasizes that God can do many mighty miracles that we see as miracles because they are supernatural according to mankind's understanding, but even He cannot and does not force a man to repent, that change must come from within and be chosen by the penitent. The personal decision to choose to repent, change and turn to God is a true miracle. I hope you find yourself a participant in that miracle in one day expanding upon your faith in Christ by receiving and accepting a witness of the Holy Spirit and choosing to accept and follow the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and eventually join the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and go no more out. 🤗

The truth. Jesus Christ is the Savior of all mankind. He paid the infinite price of sin and overcame death and hell to pave the way for us to become clean and to receive eternal life. The Spirit testifies of this truth. The truth is absolute, and God makes it known to man by the power of the Holy Ghost. It is the absolute and eternal truth that determines what religious beliefs are right and wrong. What you are describing here is not something that is possible. The Holy Ghost will not and cannot give two conflicting answers to the question, "Is Jesus Christ the Son of God and the Savior of Mankind?" He likewise will not and cannot give conflicting answers to the question, "Is the Book of Mormon a true book and the Word of God?" This has nothing to do with what we can or cannot accept, it solely pertains to what is and what is not. The question at hand is not dependent on other factors such as what is proper for you to eat as compared to me based on the differences in our physical health. Either the answer and testimony we have interpreted is true or it is not. The same applies to you. These conflicting answers are mutually exclusive. God is not the author of confusion, He is no respecter of persons, He is the same yesterday, today and forever. If one cannot rely upon Him to give identical answers to the same question regarding individual facts, then God could not be a trusted source of information, and ultimately could not be the object of our reverence, praise, and worship. The naivety comes in believing God can or would ever contradict Himself when speaking to different individuals. I am a child of God and an emissary of Christ. I am a holder of His holy priesthood. It is by Christs authority that I declare His truth. I desire only to witness of that which is right. I know the Book of Mormon is true, and that Christ is the only way whereby mankind may be saved. The Holy Ghost has made this known unto me and He can and will make it known unto you. It is not I, not any other man that has established this as God's truth, but God Himself has done it. If you believe He has made known unto you something different, then at a minimum, you must also believe that I and others have misunderstood or misinterpreted the answer we received. But I know the answers I have received are correct and true, and therefore, I invite you to come to the knowledge that the answer you believe you received, came not from God. I invite you to repent and to seek after this truth once more as you claim to have done in the past. You are endowed with the freedom to reject this, and to disbelieve it, but it will not make it any less true. I testify of these truths with boldness stemming from the love I have for you as my sister in Christ, and the desire for your eternal salvation in the Kingdom of God, through Christs atoning grace, and I do so in His name.

So are you a universalist or something? It sounds like you believe all paths lead back to God. On a contradictory note, this statement as a question makes no sense in relation to your claim to having received an answer that the Book of Mormon is not true. If you believe that all religions can be right, there's no reason you couldn't have simply chosen to be a member of the Church, and more importantly, if those religions you named are not wrong, why would ours be? By that question I mean to suggest that your own logic indicates it would not be possible to have received an actual answer from God that the Book of Mormon is not true. As a related aside. The things you are saying really point more and more to validate my statement that you must have not fulfilled God's promise as declared by Moroni. You are beginning to write in ways that indicate you adhere to what we commonly refer to as the philosophies of men mingled with scripture. Once again, I have no intention of meanness, but I will be bold in my testimony of the truth of God.