Blossom76

This helps, thank you, but I still don't know where I will be placed in heaven if I am not sealed in a temple.

I've actually just finished reading Jacob (I know I'm not very far in) But it mentions a few times that polygamy is an abomination to God so how can it be allowed in Heaven? Or on earth for that matter - I know its not done anymore on earth but it was and by Joseph - who dictated the Book of Mormon - which says polygamy is an abomination to God - doesn't make much sense. How can a prophet go against the Book of Mormon? Especially the Prophet that first did the translation? I find that concept very confusing

Yes I try to read a couple of chapters everyday

Again, with respect, this is not a question of trusting God, this is a question of trusting that the LDS prophets and LDS church are in fact speaking for him. I shall pray on it, a lot!

This is so true. I don't know my catholic faith very well at all. My husband does though, while he is happy for me to investigate the LDS faith (he took a while but he is ok with it now) he is quite insistent that I learn the Catholic faith properly as well before leaving it, which I think is fair enough. After all how can I declare a faith false and leave for another one if I don't even understand either of them thoroughly. (especially when both claim to be the only true church started by Jesus Christ - they can't both be right, it's one or the other)

Please believe me when I say I mean absolutely no offence whatsoever when I say this (I am a very sincere investigator) but I don't see this as a matter of trusting God, I trust God without question. For me the trust issue here is with LDS teachings, which are supposedly given to LDS Prophets by God, so for me this is a matter of trusting the LDS teachings and prophets. If they are speaking for God then this is true, if they are not then this is not true. Eternity is a long time and my husband isn't likely to join the LDS church and get sealed to me in a temple so where do I go for eternity?

But you do need to be sealed in a temple marriage to achieve the highest level of heaven right? So if the first wife choose not to live polygamy in eternity then she's single again (like divorced in eternity) so can't be in the celestial kingdom. ARHHH this is doing my head in, anyone got any links for me to read? I really need to make peace with this

This is the part I am struggling to understand and deal with. So this man's wives would still both be sealed to him in the celestial kingdom and therefore be stuck living polygamy for all eternity, and it wasn't even their choice, well maybe it was the second's woman's choice because she would know what she's getting into but the first wife would not be expecting this and certainly didn't choose it, and now would have to spend eternity unhappy or choose a lower level of glory. It's a hard call.

I had no idea this was taught by a Prophet, it makes me really uneasy, I'm going to have to look at Brigham Young and what he taught, I dont know much about church history except the basic teachings the church gives on Joseph Smith. Is there Polygamy in the celestial kingdom? And if so is it a requirement for the highest degree of glory?

Thanks everyone

But Heavenly Mother is God the Fathers wife right? And I guess our spiritual mother like he is our spiritual father. I wish there was more information about her, I really like the idea of her, it's a beautiful concept.

I do understand and am well aware of that, sorry if my question is not clear, the first part of my sentence was about Heavenly Mother (who as far as I'm aware doesn't have a name) and the second part was about the Virgin Mary Mother Of Jesus

Hi guys, I was hoping to get some insight on Heavenly Mother (the concept is very new to me so I basically have no clue about it at all!), and also what the LDS doctrine teachings (and also your own personal views) on The Virgin Mary Mother Of Jesus, the Virgin Birth etc Thanks for reading, appreciate all responses

Thank you, that's really nice to hear

You're a legend, thank you.

Thank you, that helps me. Any chance you know the LDS understanding John 20: 21-23? This is where the authority to grant forgiveness for sins on Jesus/Gods behalf was given to the apostles by Jesus when he appeared to them after there resurrection. I'd really appreciate your perspective on this, as I find it very confusing.

I didn't know that, at the moment my service starts at 2:30 but the building does cover 3 ward groups. So I can go at the 2:30 service time even when it's not my area anymore? That's good news, but I agree that I would rather stay with the people I am meeting with now if its possible, but I guess the most important thing is that I attend as often as possible, whatever group I end up in

Thank you, it really means a lot to me

I'm so happy right now! As some of you know my husband is very Catholic and I'm investigating the LDS church, I love the Book Of Mormon and I'm praying to know if its true (nothing yet but I'll keep praying!) but my husband was umm lets just say 'less than impressed' with the whole idea. Anyway, we have come to a compromise. If I study the LDS faith for 18 months in depth and still want to join he will be supportive of me and even come to my baptism! The only condition is that I have to study the Catholic faith at the same time (his point is you can't leave your own church for another if you don't even have a proper grounding in your own faith. He also thinks I should have a proper understanding of the LDS faith before converting). He doesn't mind me attending LDS church as long as I go to Mass with him first (which is fine because the Mass is in the morning and the ward for my area is in the afternoon). I do try to go to LDS church every week but honestly I need to be more dedicated (4 hours of church a week is a long time!) He has also agreed to study the LDS church with me (he will also help me study the Catholic church as well) and read the Book Of Mormon. God certainly does work in your life if you pray and keep faith. This is definitely progress people!

Thanks that helps, I think the difference is that the LDS church don't believe Jesus Christ gave the authority to forgive sins on his behalf to the apostles and that authority was handed onto further leaders of the church (so it is still Jesus forgiving the sins, they just act for Jesus with authority), where as the Catholic Church does (John 20: 21-23). I'm a bit confused about the LDS views on the Trinity with regards to this though, LDS faith stipulates that only God can forgive sins but you also believe Jesus can forgive sins, but you don't believe in the trinity. Is that right?

Okay, I think I understand now. LDS don't believe man can forgive sins on behalf of Jesus, because they don't beleve Jesus can forgive sins only God? I was raised to believe that Jesus is the mediator between man and god and can forgive sins, and that he gave that authority to forgive sins to his apostles. Matthew 9: 1-6 says Jesus has the authority to forgive sins and in John 20: 21-23 Jesus gives that authority to his apostles (there are more places in the bible that talk about priests forgiving sins etc, this is all I can remember of the top of my head, its early in the morning here!). Is there a passage in the Book of Mormon about this that I could read? Its just really hard for me to understand when the bible says something completely different, I know there are times when the bible is not taken as divine in the LDS church (as far as translated correctly I think is how its worded), which is a new concept for me also, is this one of those times? Matthew 9: 1-6 9 And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. 2 And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. 3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. 4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? 5 For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? 6 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. John 20: 21-23 21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: 23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.

Ok I'm confused again! (its not hard so please be patient with all my questions!) So an LDS bishop can't forgive sins on behalf of Jesus Christ? But an LDS Bishop does hold the Priesthood right? But if an LDS Bishop sees fit depending on your confession and how bad the sin is he can take church privileges away from you? And that's how you atone for your sins?

Thanks Guys, that clears it up for me

Does the LDS church require confession? How often do you have to go to your bishop for confession? I know that for some sins it is necessary to confess to a bishop what what sins are they? Is the bishop obligated to keep any confession confidential or are there circumstances where confidentiality is not kept? All answers are appreciated, thanks for reading

I think this video explains how the great apostasy may have happened, its not an LDS produced video but its certainly not anti-mormon at all (if anything its anti-catholic, but not in a vicious way, in a factual way) so feel free to watch it, I found it very informative. I didn't realise that there were groups of christians calling out the apostasy of the church well before the 1500s. Very interesting (warning it goes for over 2 hours!)