Grunt

I Can't Stop Buying Pens

I don't know what those are either.

Ahhhh. Long day. I have no idea how many fountain pens I own now.

That went over my head.

No. My kids turn 7 this fall. My wife is more active than I am if that's possible, but she is not yet a member. She isn't ready.

It's funny because Sunday night we started reading the Book of Mormon, one page a night in a round robin by verses, as a family. It's been very rewarding.

I've never been in that part of the Temple, so I wouldn't know. My point was strictly this: for some, the thought that something might not be literal brings into question that NOTHING may be literal. I often lean in that direction. For others, they have no problem with things not being literal. But why argue about it? To win the argument means you shake the other's faith. Is that the goal?

I really enjoyed this list. Some of the things I already do, others I'm going to work on. http://www.ldsliving.com/President-Nelson-Shares-9-Crucial-Things-Parents-Should-Teach-Their-Children/s/89141

I guess I'm just not inspired by people arguing over whether scripture is figurative or literal.

I guess I'm just not cut out for it, or I'm just getting sick of the places I go to for inspiration becoming less inspirational.

Or perhaps it IS literal. Does it really matter? Why do we argue over these things, when the end result is the same. It is so destructive.

Maxwell Institute has a great podcast I listen to.

Take this for what it's worth. This advice and 50 cents will buy you a gumball. As an investigator, I was ready to leave the and stop investigating over something that was causing me pain. I couldn't wrap my brain around something in the church. I'd prayed for some time, asked members, and asked missionaries. Nobody and nothing could help me. Then, while out of state, I stopped by a temple and spoke to the missionaries there. They couldn't help me either, but as I was leaving one asked me "have you tried praying not for answers, but to just be OK with the things you don't understand and are causing you trouble?" I went back to my hotel and prayed for that with all sincerity. I woke up the next morning free of worry and ready to be baptized. Maybe it will help you.

It almost kept me from joining the Church.

Not that I'm aware of. Difficult to take in. As a new convert, I have a comfortable grasp of exaltation, but really struggle when "exaltation" is swapped for "become gods".

That's where I'm at. I still have trouble with King Follet's Discourse.

Thanks. I haven't been able to find anything that supports any of that, either. I'm always extra careful, as a new convert, because I'm consistently told things to be fact, then pulled aside by other members and told it's just lore. I really try to research everything.

Then I guess your only option is to get on your knees and ask Heavenly Father.

I don't think anyone is waving off your opinion, we're just trying to help. How is your eternal soul in jeopardy? Worst case scenario, it goes like this: 1. You know the Book of Mormon is true. 2. Therefore, you know authority is needed for baptism. 3. You get baptized. 4. You go to the Temple and see the sacred ordinances. 5. You think they are crazy and against the will of Christ. 6. Therefore, the Church must NOT be true, which means it has no authority, which means you aren't baptized. 7. You go find the next group that believes the Book of Mormon and investigate them.

Ahhhh. Have you checked out those other groups?

Ok, for the sake of this conversation let's ignore the fact that they don't make sacred things public, just as many organizations do. If you believe the Book of Mormon is true, then you know Joseph Smith was the Prophet, obviously. Correct?

That's going to make it easier for me. Washington DC and Kansas City Temples next month!

Do you believe the Book of Mormon is true? Do you believe the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the true church of the Christ?

1). I see in the Bible Dictionary where it says the Holy Ghost and The Christ are Gods, but I can't find it in scripture anywhere. Where does it come from? 2). Agreed. Speculation. I also can't find anywhere that it says the Holy Spirit will ever receive a body or what His nature is.

That's very true. It was tough for me, also. I was just confused when you said it didn't matter if you "know". To me, it absolutely mattered. Once I knew the Book of Mormon was true and the Church was Christ's Church, the million things I didn't know didn't matter because I trust Christ.